Then-Miss Salem director Allison Churtz apologized for not backing the contest beyond the local pageant, admitting, 'I'm not a pageant girl.'Ĭhurtz said she disliked young women parading across the stage in bathing suits. Residents criticized the council for spending $500 on the county-based Junior Miss Pageant, while not supporting local admission into the Miss Utah contest. The city budgets $3,500 annually for the Miss Salem Pageant, but the council didn't want to spend an additional $1,700 on the Miss Utah contest. The council dropped the Miss Salem Pageant from the state and national competition in May over financial issues and instead beefed up scholarships for local winners. Only Councilwoman Lynn Durrant voted against it. 'Readers are Leaders' helps elementary-aged students who are struggling with literacy, tutoring them at schools and public libraries.SALEM, Utah County - Miss Salem Celsey Long will compete for Miss Utah next year and possibly Miss America after all.Īfter an emotional plea from residents and a member of the executive board of the Miss Utah Pageant, the Salem City Council on Wednesday reinstated the local contest into the Miss America organization. She also gets to spread awareness about her own platform. She dressed up as Minnie Mouse, a nod to Walt Disney's influence in Florida, and recited a minute-long speech about the character.Īs Junior Miss of America, Anya gets to travel nationwide, representing American Pageants in various community service initiatives. The on-stage questions were the most nerve-wracking, Anya said, because she had to quickly form a thoughtful response while also maintaining a graceful stage presence.Īnya's favorite round of competition was the 'state achiever,' in which contestants represent a prominent figure hailing from their home state. Throughout the four-day event, Anya participated in multiple rounds of competition - some scored and others just for fun - including a panel interview, on-stage questions, evening gown, sportswear, casual wear and more. Lucie County in the Miss Florida pageants when she was a teenager. Annone, a Fort Pierce native, represented St. This was Anya's first pageant appearance, taking after her mother, Stacy Annone, who also used to compete. Anya Annone, 15, of Fort Pierce, was crowned 'Junior Miss of America' at the 2021 national American Pageants competition Nov.

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