Contestant field set for Miss Oconee Belle

One dozen young ladies are in the field to compete to be the first Miss Oconee Belle. The Walhalla Area Chamber of Commerce sponsors the pageant, Saturday April 11 at the Walhalla Civic Auditorium. The doors will open at 4:30 for a 5:00 start. Tickets are $5 and available at the door. This pageant was created as an opportunity for ninth to twelfth grade girls, currently enrolled in an Oconee County school, to not only receive a scholarship, but to challenge herself by giving back to her community. Competing will be Elizabeth Honea, Emily Dover, Erika Lyon, Waverly Speegle, Morgan McCall, Lauren Kelley, Savannah Kirby, Morgan MacLachlan, Grace Crowl, Rebeka Glenn, Leslie Martin, and Faith Marcengill. “The format of the pageant will be different from some of the other pageants,” says Darlene Greene, Chamber President. “The contestants were asked to write a brief summary about what Oconee has to offer visitors to the area and they will meet and interview with two local business professionals. They will also network in a semi-formal social setting, as well as, appear on stage in casual and formal wear for the pageant judges.” The pageant coordinators also turned to social media to let users choose Most Photogenic. The newly crowned Miss Oconee Belle will partake in several area festivals and events. The first will be Issaqueena’s Last Ride, a bike ride that begins in Walhalla and takes the cyclists through the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The second event will be Walhalla’s Mayfest Art of Living. Scheduled for May 15 and 16, Miss Oconee Belle will serve as hostess for the two day festival. She may be spotted with the crown on her head at the Classic Car Show and Shaggin’ in the Park, both new to the festival this year. The last event will be the 2016 BellFest at Lake Jocassee. This festival is sponsored by the Friends of Jocassee and is used to promote their mission to preserve, protect and promote the natural and cultural resources of the Jocassee Gorges area. With this selection of beautiful young ladies, the judges will surely have a difficult time as they select the Miss Oconee Belle on April 11th.