On February 16 the Student Government Association (SGA) held Delta State University’s 2017 Most Beautiful Pageant at the Bologna Performing Arts Center. Thursday night, 29 ladies competed for the title of 2017 Most Beautiful, and the winner of that coveted title is Miss Leah Green.

The competition began well before Thursday night. The Most Beautiful Pageant has three parts: the photograph portion, the interview, and the evening gown competition. The first part is the photograph portion. In this portion each of the ladies are required to have a picture taken of them by the pageant photographer. The judges, Earnest Hart, John Polles, and Laura Dow Madison, then viewed the photographs to determine the winner of the Most Photogenic Award. The 2017 Most Photogenic award went to contestant number 9, Shelbi Thompson.

The interview was the second part of the competition for the Most Beautiful Pageant. When applying to compete in the pageant, Elizabeth Swindle explained, “[the contestants] had to submit a short bio. The Judges asked us questions based on the individual bios that we provided.” The contestants were also required to wear business attire for the interview.

The third and final portion of the Pageant is the Evening Gown Competition. This portion begins with the Mistress of Ceremonies (MS), Dr. Vernell Bennett, introducing each lady and then reading the bio that she provided. After the first round of the competition the judges decide of the Top 10 Finalists for the evening. The Top 10 Finalists were: Emily Grossi, Ashley Griffin, Leah Green, McKenna Holden, Jordan Wright, Rachel Mares, Karlee Ponder, Haley King, Haley Scalzo, and Carly Upchurch.

The Top 10 Finalists then participated in the Final Competition to determine the winners of the four Beauties and the Most Beautiful for 2017. The four Beauties of 2017 are: Emily Grossi, Haley King, Carly Upchurch, and Jordan Wright. Contestant number 14, Leah Green took home the title of 2017 Most Beautiful. As the winners were being announced, the 2016 Most Beautiful, Emily Adams, presented the winners with their awards and flowers. Miss Adams also had the honor of crowning Miss Green as 2017’s winner.

This event was put on by the Delta State Pageant Board and was directed by Bevin Lamb and Reed Douglas. The Auditors for the pageant were Jamie VanVulpen and Josh Morgan. The Musical Entertainment for the evening was provided by Morgan Keeter, Long Time Coming, Allie Rose Parker, Gunter McCourt, Michael Lipford, Carly King and Jordan Galtelli. The 29 contestants were: Alandria Ramsey, Chesney Mardis, Shelby Irby, Emily Grossi, Haley Alexander, Ashely Griffin, Gillian Oakley, Chloe Cole, Shelbi Thompson, Abby Gilbert, Johnna Ladd, Mary Margaret Grant, Carley Caulder, Leah Green, McKenna Holden, Sabrina Balmer, Lauren Hale, Jordan Wright, Rachel Mares, Karlee Ponder, Caitlyn Brooks, Lydia Wagner, Haley King, Kamryn Otts, Morgan Harper, Amber Stone, Haley Scalzo, Carly Upchurch, and Elizabeth Swindle.

All of the ladies did a wonderful job and looked amazing. Make sure to come out next year for the 2018 Most Beautiful Pageant. For more information on Pageants and other events contact the Delta State University SGA.