Applications for the 2014 Miss Chilton County Pageant and photogenic contest are available at Chilton County schools and C & C Trophy.

The pageant will be held at Chilton County High School at 2 p.m. Nov. 1 for Little Miss, Young Miss and Junior Miss categories, and at 3 p.m. Nov. 2 for the Miss category.

Registration for all participants will be Oct. 12 from 2–3:30 p.m. at the Alabama Power Company Conference Center in Clanton.

No late entries will be accepted.

Participants must be residents, full-time college students or full-time employees of Chilton County, and they must have never been married and have no children, to compete in the pageant.

Age qualifications for each category are as follows: Little Miss – 5 years old by Nov. 1, ages 5-7; Young Miss – 8 years old by Nov. 1, ages 8-11 and cannot turn 12 before June 15, 2015; Junior Miss – 12 years old by Nov. 1, ages 12-16; and Miss – 17 years old by Nov. 2, ages 17-24 and no older than 24 on Dec. 31, 2015.

The purpose of the Miss Chilton County Pageant is to promote Chilton County, and the new queens will be expected to represent the county and its municipalities for a period of one year.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Miss Chilton County Pageant.

The past 25 queens of the Miss category will be recognized Nov. 2.

Past queens are asked to contact Diane Calloway at dcalloway@chilton.k12.al.us for more information.

Participants in the 2014 pageant must bring a copy of their birth certificates to registration Oct. 12.

The entry fee is $75, which must accompany the pageant application.

All contestants must have a sponsor from a local business or individual.

In addition, all contestants are encouraged to sell one page of advertisement for the program book.

The Clanton Evening Lions Club will furnish a DVD of the pageant for each contestant.

Checks should be made payable to: Clanton Evening Lions Club. Entry fees are non-refundable.

Each contestant must also submit four wallet-size photos (black and white or color and head shots only).

Contestants’ names and sponsors must be printed on the back of each photo, which must be submitted with the application.

Each Miss contestant must submit eight wallet-size photos (black and white or color and head shots only) with the application.

Contestants must attend all practices.

Little, Young and Junior contestants will model casual wear and evening gown on stage.

Junior Miss contestants will have a private interview with the judges.

Miss contestants will model an evening gown and approved swimsuit (one-piece or two-piece), perform a talent, have a private interview with judges and answer an on-stage question.

Each Miss contestant must raise $100 for the Children’s Miracle Network by Oct. 25, 2015.

The Young Miss winner will represent Chilton County as an Alabama Rising Star at the 2015 Miss Alabama Pageant.

The Miss winner will represent Chilton County at the 2015 Miss Alabama Pageant.

Passing the torch

The 2013 Miss Chilton County queens were Little Miss Addyson Williams, Young Miss Grayson Gann, Junior Miss Laken Hayes and Miss Katie Hilyer.

During her reign as Miss Chilton County, Hilyer competed in the 2014 Miss Alabama Pageant in June and said the program’s emphasis on community service allowed her to help the community and determine what career path she wants to pursue.

“The Miss America system encourages participants to be strong young women in their communities,” Hilyer said. “One of the biggest parts of the system is community service. I was undecided about what path I would take for a career as a political science and public relations double major, and this experience has given me a purpose.

“When I won Miss Chilton County almost a year ago, I set out with one goal: to make a difference in my community—not just for a year, but to establish something that I can grow and develop well beyond my reign. I founded the C.A.M.O. Foundation (Challenging Alabama for Military Opportunities) to locate resources for veterans in their local communities. The biggest takeaway from this experience is my new sense of life direction.”

Hilyer said through working with veterans and veterans’ organizations, she has decided to dedicate her life to helping veterans and those who need legal help and representation.

“I am now scheduled to take my LSAT in December and will be one step closer to law school,” she said. “Seriously, all clichés aside, I owe my future to the Miss America organization. My $1,500 scholarship I won at Miss Alabama (innovative community service award) has paid in full for my LSAT Kaplan prep course.”

Hilyer said along with opening a door to the Miss Alabama Pageant, benefits of competing in Miss Chilton County include building confidence for interviews, answering onstage questions and walking across the stage in a swimsuit.

“As Miss Chilton County, I learned to always stay true to yourself, speak in front of large crowds with efficiency and directness, and how to organize fundraisers,” she said. “Not many girls get to represent their hometowns at Miss Alabama. It was a wonderful experience.

“I enjoyed every appearance made and every hour spent on my platform. For the next Miss Chilton County I hope you are ready for a year of service and a trip to Miss Alabama you’ll never forget.”

Photogenic Contest

The Clanton Evening Lions Club will hold a photogenic contest in conjunction with the Miss Chilton County Pageant.

The contest consists of the registration form, a $10 fee per child and one 5-by-7-inch photo for judging.

Photogenic entrants do not have to participate in the pageant.

All contestants must live in Chilton County.

Photogenic winners will be announced Nov. 2 at the Miss Chilton County Pageant.

Pictures, fees and forms should be mailed to C & C Trophy, 209 Sixth St. N., Clanton, AL 35045 by Oct. 25, or they can be turned in at pageant registration Oct. 12.

Age groups for photogenic are: 0-2 years, 3-4 years, 5-7 years, 8-11 years, 12-16 years and 17-24 years.