Ten with Middle Georgia connections vying for Miss Georgia title

Ten young women from Middle Georgia or who represent Middle Georgia are heading to Columbus this weekend for a week of activities and competitions while ultimately vying for the titles of Miss Georgia and Miss Georgia Outstanding Teen 2016.

Last year, Miss Warner Robins 2015 Betty Cantrell brought home the title of Miss Georgia 2015. She later captured the Miss America crown.

Although the interview competition will begin Sunday, the 72nd Annual Miss Georgia Pageant will officially begin at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, at the Bill Heard Theatre at RiverCenter for the Performing Arts. Preliminary competitions are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights with the finale and crowning of Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen 2016 on Friday night, and the crowning of Miss Georgia on Saturday.

Five people will judge both the Miss and Outstanding Teen Pageants, said Marcy Waugh, past executive director of the Miss Warner Robins Board, with scoring percentages for the teen competition being the same as last year: 25 percent for the interview, 25 percent for evening wear/on-stage question, 35 percent for talent and 15 percent for lifestyle and fitness in sportswear. The Miss Georgia scoring percentages have changed to comprise 25 percent for the interview, 15 percent for evening wear, 20 percent for on-stage question, 30 percent talent and 10 percent swimsuit.

April Montgomery, executive director of The Miss Macon Scholarship Association, said she started preparing her queens for the state competition right after they were crowned. Preparation included sending the queens two questions every day on topics such as pop culture, their platform and politics. In addition, about once a month community members would conduct mock interviews with the girls in order to give them experience talking and answering questions in the time frame allowed.

Likewise, Rodney Johnson, executive director of The Miss Warner Robins/Miss International City Scholarship Pageant said that its board has also done specific things to help prepare its queens for state competition. He said the queens have participated in roundtable discussions to help keep them updated on issues that may be ongoing up until the time of Miss Georgia, and they also participated in mock interviews with individuals who have “areas of expertise that relate to their platforms.” He said the queens also use other resources so they can be their “best overall self” for Miss Georgia.

The contestants with Middle Georgia connections headed to the pageant include:

Miss Warner Robins Tess Hammock, 22, of Forsyth, a rising senior at the University of Georgia who will be delivering a vocal performance of “Till You Came Into My Life.” Her platform is “Powering America Through Positive Youth Development.”

Miss International City Caroline Burnette, 20, of Statesboro, is a rising sophomore at Georgia Southern University. She will perform a ballet en pointe to “Bye Bye Black Bird.” Her platform is Alzheimer’s awareness.

Miss Warner Robins’ Outstanding Teen Grace Thomas, 14, of Warner Robins is a rising sophomore at Houston County High School, and she will be delivering a vocal performance of “I’ll Be Home.” Her platform is “Showing Compassion Through Action for Childhood Cancer.”

Miss International City’s Outstanding Teen Mandolyn Howard, 17, of Wrens, is a rising senior at Jefferson County High School in Louisville, and she will be tapping to “You Can’t Stop the Beat.” Her platform is “Read to Succeed.”

Miss Houston County’s Outstanding Teen Kelsey Hollis, 16, of Warner Robins, is a rising senior at Houston County High School, and she will be delivering a vocal performance to “Hallelujah.” Her platform is “TAABS: Teaching Autism Awareness by Siblings — A Platform for Change.”

Miss Macon Destiny Donita Levant, 21, of Reidsville, is a recent graduate of the University of Georgia. She will be performing a tap dance routine to “Can’t Hold Us.” Her platform is “A.S.P. for ME: Afterschool Programs for Mastering Education.”

Miss Macon’s Outstanding Teen Annie Swan, 14, of Wadley, is a rising freshman at Thomas Jefferson Academy in Louisville, and she will be performing a tap dance to a Michael Jackson medley “Who’s Bad?” Her platform is “Raise a Voice for ALS.”

Miss Henry County Kathleen Hlavaty, 20, of Macon, is a rising junior at Kennesaw State University, and she will be performing a jazz dance to the song “Classic” by MKTO. She is contestant No. 3 in the Gamma group, and her platform is “Swim Safe.”

Miss Columbus State University’s Outstanding Teen Anna Claire Brown, 15, of Kathleen, is a rising junior at Veterans High school, and she will be playing the ukulele and singing a Beatles medley. Her platform is “Acceptance and Inclusion: Best Buddies International.”

Miss Conyers Cherry Blossom’s Outstanding Teen Anna Grace Pope, 17, of Hawkinsville is a rising senior at The Westfield School in Perry, and she will be performing a contemporary clogging routine to “Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince. Her platform is Special Olympics.

For those who cannot attend the pageant, Johnson said the pageant will be streamed from http://wrbl.com/ live at 7:30 p.m. starting Tuesday on WRBL.com out of Columbus.

This story was originally published June 12, 2016 at 9:41 PM with the headline "Ten with Middle Georgia connections vying for Miss Georgia title."