Bold and beautiful: Girls get chance to shine at Pelham Day of Pageants

Published 10:54 pm Wednesday, March 12, 2025

By Dave Domescik

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By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

PELHAM – Dozens of girls across the Pelham City Schools system had the chance to shine during the 2025 Pelham Day of Pageants on Saturday, March 8.

Contestants wore extravagant dresses and developed lasting relationships during the pageant. The event served as a fundraiser for the Pelham High School varsity and junior varsity cheer program. Tracy Wood Franklin, the president of the Pelham High School Cheer Boosters, gave some background on how the event played out.

“Our emcees were Anna Mann, 2024 Miss PHS and Daeonna McGee, 2025 Miss PHS,” Franklin said. “We had 58 girls from the city of Pelham enter this year ranging from kindergarten through eighth grade. The contestants were escorted on stage by boys from Pelham Ridge Elementary, Pelham Oaks Elementary and Pelham Park Middle School. The girls introduced themselves onstage and did a beauty walk. McGee and Junior Miss PHS, Emma Grace Morgan, crowned the winners.”

Franklin believes that the event was a success, citing the support from the community as a big reason why.

“This year exceeded our expectations,” Franklin said. “We had more contestants than we did last year. The Pelham community really comes together for this pageant. The administration at Pelham High School is very generous to share the auditorium and theatre staff with us.”

Franklin added that more than just citizens stepped up to support the pageant.

“We also have lots of support from local businesses,” Franklin said. “We would love to thank Sassy Creations, Minuteman Press, LeFleur Flowers, Half Shell Oyster House, Crown Trophy, Podos Ink and Thread and Wendy Ainsworth with McAlister’s Deli.”

Franklin is equally thankful for both the community support at the event and how the pageant serves as a great way for girls across Pelham to connect.

“We are very fortunate that each year the numbers grow and the community really comes together to support us,” Franklin said. “We feel the pageant is a great way for girls from all over Pelham to bond and form new friendships. We love to see them sharing fellowship on rehearsal night and the day of the pageant.”

The event is also a special moment for PHS students who have previously participated in the pageant.

“Some of our current PHS cheerleaders started doing the pageant when they were in elementary school themselves,” Franklin said. “They have now come full circle and cherish their own PDP memories.”

Outside of giving girls the chance to shine, the event is a huge fundraiser for the PHS cheer program.

“PDP is one of Pelham High School Cheer’s biggest fundraisers,” Franklin said. “The money raised goes to support attendance of Universal Cheerleaders Association Camp. This year the girls will attend camp at the University of Alabama. We already have ideas to make the pageant bigger and better next year.”

The following is the list of winners from this year’s pageants:

Mini-Miss Panther Division (Kindergarten through second grade)

– Photogenic: Laikyn Nail

– People’s Choice: Adalyn Hagan

– Kindergarten Princess: Melanie Hargrove

– First Grade Princess: Brently Compton

– Second Grade Princess: Saniya Shepherd

– Mini-Miss Panther: Adalyn Wyatt

– First Alternate: Eva Threatt

– Second Alternate: Chandler Campisi

– Third Alternate: Liesl Hudson

Little-Miss Panther Division (Third through fifth Grade)

– Photogenic: Angelina Sousa

– People’s Choice: Charlotte Gattina

– Third Grade Princess: Abigail Chandler

– Fourth Grade Princess: Madison Lockhart

– Fifth Grade Princess: Kaiden Brown

– Little-Miss Panther: Hollon Bush

– First Alternate: Emma Tinsley

– Second Alternate: McKenzie Murphy

– Third Alternate: Charlie Daily

Junior-Miss Panther Division (Sixth through eighth grade)

– Photogenic: Claire Tucker

– People’s Choice: Taylor Bailey

– Seventh Grade Princess: Aly Bevelle

– Eighth Grade Princess: Kylee Pickford

– Junior-Miss Panther: Claire Tucker

– First Alternate: Taylor Bailey

– Second Alternate: Brylan Reynolds

– Third Alternate: Abigail Lockhart

For more information on the Pelham Day of Pageants, visit Facebook.com/PDPageants.

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