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It's Crowning Season: Local Queens Selected

    Two separate beauty pageants were held over the weekend, with young girls being selected to represent both the City of Eustis and the Lake County Fair in the coming year. A large group of participants of varying ages were part of the programs, held at the First Baptist Church of Umatilla and LifePointe Church in Eustis.
    In Umatilla, the following winners were selected to represent the Lake County Fair, which will arrive in April:  Baby Miss Ellie Jeckovich
Toddler Miss Serenity Clanton
Peewee Miss Aliza Perez
Tiny Miss Ella Bitzer
Little Miss Marcella Ciceri
Junior Miss Jaclyn Holton
Teen Miss Shaylin Shumate and Miss Makenna Richey.
    In Eustis, the following report was submitted by Jeni Sellers:  More than a dozen hopeful ladies took to the stage last Sunday night for the annual Miss Eustis Scholarship Program. Held for its third year at LifePointe Church, this beauty pageant highlights the start of the city's weeklong GeorgeFest celebration.
    The event was a rhinestone studded one with guest appearances by more than twenty current and previous title holders including the reigning Miss Florida, Paris Richardson. Contestants were cheered on by more than a hundred family, friends, and audience members as they danced, sang, twirled, hula'd, and otherwise smiled their way to the finale. But only two ladies could win.
    The winner of Miss Eustis Teen was selected as the audience's choice, so it seems most were in accordance for this winner. Sydney Salas impressed judges when confidently speaking about her community service initiative (or CSI as it is called in pageant world) and gracefully gliding across the stage in her beautiful white sparkly formalwear. Similarly, the Miss Eustis contestants wowed and awed with their poise and talent, though, a clear winner prevailed. It was a witty ventriloquist in a jaw-dropping black and white evening gown who took home the crown. Congratulations Baylee Martin! 
    The Miss Eustis Scholarship Program is dedicated to empowering young women through leadership, service, education, and personal development. As an official local preliminary, Sydney and Baylee, will be eligible to compete in the Miss Florida Teen and Miss Florida Competition over the summer. "Confidence becomes powerful when it is paired with service, and a crown is simply a symbol of a woman who chooses to lead." Good luck, Ladies!