Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby Holds Annual Pageant
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The annual Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby (SEGSBD) Scholarship Pageant was held on Saturday, February 15, as the new royalty was selected to represent the community at this year’s derby.
The pageant has grown tremendously throughout the past years and had around 76 contestants vying for crowns this year – a record high for the event. Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby Scholarship Pageant Director Leslie Harrell said that this increase in participation is overwhelming, and may even cause the pageant to become a twoday event in the future.
“We had 76 contestants in the pageant this year, and we were blessed to give out $2,950 in cash and scholarship prizes. We have 10 divisions – ages birth to Miss; it’s a big difference from 1993, when the pageant started with 4 divisions and when a $500 scholarship was added in 2013,” Harrell explained.
Harrell said that a recent addition to the pageant is that contestants ages 6-16 may compete in the interview competition for cash prizes, which allows them to gain practice in the skill. “Almost all of these girls enter the interview competition, which is great! It really helps them learn interview skills, which prepares them for the future,” she remarked.
Contestants ages 10 and older also perform an opening number dance, which is choreographed by Sassy Sisters Dance Studio, and the Miss and Ms/Mrs. Divisions answer an on-stage question during the competition, which is either related to their submitted biography or information shared during their interview with the judges.
Harrell shared her admiration for the event, which she has been a part of for several years. “The first thing I do when I start planning the pageant is pray, and God helps put it all together,” she emphasized. “This pageant is very special to me, and I want to try to make this day special for each girl that walks through the doors. Whether she wins or not, I hope she walks away feeling good about herself and knowing that true beauty comes from what is inside of her heart. I’m thankful that these girls get this time to love one another, have fun, make friends, and make lots of memories!”
She thanked several local businesses that made the event possible, including Corporate Sponsors Chick-Fil-A, Paul Thigpen Auto Group, Thriftway Galaxy Food Center, Curtis Components, Tar Land & Timber, Community Hospice, Kilgore Mulching, DOT Foods, Salgado Harvesting, Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home, The Parts Farm, and Y101WBBT. Makeup bags were given to winners, which Harrell said was only possible through the support of local sponsors Maddie Bea, Appearances Beauty Studio, R.J. Pope, January’s Boholic Boutique, Nutrition HQ, Shop Ollie & Company, and Sue Conner.
She also gave a special thanks to 2024 Miss Real Squeal Barbecue and Music Festival Zariah Anderson for emceeing the event.
Overall winners of the pageant were Baby Miss SEGSBD Makayla Fondren, Toddler Miss SEGSBD Karter Paige Thomas, Tiny Miss SEGSBD McKenna Gaddy, Little Miss SEGSBD Kimber Williford, Petite Miss SEGSBD Alizah Mann, Young Miss SEGSBD Fischer Reynolds, Junior Miss SEGSBD Ansley Kate Smith, Teen Miss SEGSBD Lilly Grace Freeman, Miss SEGSBD Charleigh Harper, and Ms/Mrs. SEGSBD Emma Waters.
Division winners and placements will be shared in the April 30 edition of The Advance to celebrate the return of the annual Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby, which is slated for May 2-3.
