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By BARTON PERKINS | Staff Writer

ALABASTER – Young women from all over Alabama walked across the stage at Thompson High School during the 17th annual Miss Birmingham/Miss Cahaba Valley/Miss Hidden River & Teen program on Sunday, Nov. 5, and two residents of Shelby County took home titles.

“In the teen pageant this year we had 19 participants competing for four titles,” said Victoria Seale, executive director of the Miss Birmingham/Miss Cahaba Valley/Miss Hidden River & Teen programs. 

Winners of the four titles, Miss Birmingham, Cahaba Valley, Hidden River and Covered Bridges Teen, were each awarded a $1,000 cash scholarship and a prize package of over $9,000 for each titleholder. 

“We do try to advertise it as a scholarship pageant because that’s really what they’re competing for the scholarship dollars,” Seale said. “They have the opportunity to win full rides to multiple different schools in the state of Alabama, and that alone makes it worthwhile.”

Two Shelby County teens took home titles during this year’s pageant with Madelyn Rasco taking home Miss Cahaba Valley Teen and Addison Shoemaker winning Miss Hidden River.

Rasco is a native of Pelham and won talent in the competition on Nov. 5 for her rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” from the Broadway musical, “Les Miserables”.  Rasco’s vocal talents are showcased as part of the Pelham High School Show Choir, where she is co-captain and has won a place in the Alabama All-State Choir. Her community service initiative Following the Faith: Leaving a Legacy of Hope, focuses on spina bifida and was created in honor of her late Aunt Faith.

Meanwhile, Shoemaker, 16, attends Briarwood Christian School and is a member of the cheer team, the dance teen, and the competition dance team and has won multiple awards both individually and with her team.  As a member of the Children’s Hospital of Alabama Generation Society, she has partnered with the Child Life Program at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham.

“What a lot of people don’t realize is that each girl has a community service initiative that they’re passionate about and they go and serve their communities,” Seale said. “It’s not all about having a pretty face or a crown in a sash. It’s really about service for these young women.”

Both Rasco and Shoemaker will be eligible to compete in Miss Alabama Teen this coming summer.