History made during local pageant
Published 6:15 pm Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Kitty Key is crowned as the inaugural Miss LaGrange Outstanding Teen Saturday night. (Photo By: Melanie Ruberti | Daily News)
Kaytlyn Williams, Miss Troup County Outstanding Teen 2017 (Photo By: Melanie Ruberti | Daily News)
Shannon Smith is crowned the new Miss LaGrange 2017 Saturday night in the Troup High School Fine Arts Auditorium. This will be the first time a young lady has represented LaGrange in the Miss Georgia pageant since the 1940’s, said pageant directors.
Caroline Carroll, Miss Troup County 2017 (Photo By: Melanie Ruberti | Daily News)
Kaytlyn Williams cries tears of joy as she is crowned the new Miss Troup Outstanding Teen on Saturday night. (Photo By: Melanie Ruberti | Daily News)
Caroline Carroll performs an en pointe ballet routine for the judges Saturday during the talent portion of the competition. (Photo By: Melanie Ruberti | Daily News)
Winners of the 2017 Miss Troup County and Miss LaGrange Scholarship Pageants: (l-r) Shannon Smith, Miss LaGrange, Caroline Carroll, Miss Troup County, Kitty Key, Miss LaGrange Outstanding Teen and Kaytlyn Williams, Miss Troup County Outstanding Teen. (Photo By: Melanie Ruberti | Daily News)
By Melanie Ruberti
Melanie.ruberti@lagrangenews.com
History made during local pageant
Four girls crowned; head to state competition
LaGRANGE – History was made Saturday night in the Troup High School Fine Arts Auditorium as four young ladies were crowned winners of the annual scholarship pageant.
For the first time since the 1940’s, there will be someone representing the city of LaGrange at the Miss Georgia pageant in June.
In this case, there will be two girls.
Shannon Smith was crowned as the new Miss LaGrange; Kitty Key, 16, won the title of Miss LaGrange Outstanding Teen.
“I am very excited to be joining the organization and to see what the next year brings,” said Key. “I’m also excited to represent LaGrange at the Miss Georgia pageant.”
“I was absolutely shocked,” Smith remembered when her name was called out as the winner of Miss LaGrange. “But I am absolutely thrilled and looking forward to all the new experiences I’ll have in representing LaGrange.”
Both Smith and Key said this was their first time entering a scholarship pageant.
Tradition carried on through the rest of the night as two new young ladies won their respective titles and will represent Troup County at the state pageant in June.
Caroline Carroll, 20, was crowned Miss Troup County; Kaytlyn Williams won the title of Miss Troup County Outstanding Teen.
“I’m excited, overwhelmed and surprised,” stated Williams with a smile. “I’m very excited to start bonding with the Troup County Scholarship Board.”
“It hasn’t quite sunk in yet,” Carroll said with a laugh about her new title. “But I am so thrilled. I had a great time getting to know the girls and I feel like I am already a part of the community.”
The girls not only receive a crown and prestigious title, but scholarship money from the pageant’s board members and several local sponsors.
This year, the judges also awarded girls who scored the highest in the talent and physical fitness competition. The audience picked their favorite girl overall in the “People’s Choice” award. That honor was given to Kitty Key.
Overall, the pageant was a success, said Miss Troup County Scholarship Program Executive Director Judy Neighbors.
“It was wonderful. The crowd loved it,” she stated back stage after the competition ended. “Everyone loved us bring back the tradition of the Miss LaGrange pageant … it’s more work, but it’s also more excitement.”
The four pageant winners will hold special events and speaking engagements around the community throughout the year, in addition to preparing for the Miss Georgia Scholarship pageant.
The LaGrange Daily News is a contributor to the Miss Troup County Scholarship Program, Inc.
Melanie Ruberti is a reporter with LaGrange Daily News. She can be reached at 706-884-7311, ext. 2156.
