Fun, Frills
by Kellen Moore
Never before has Blowing Rock's WinterFest kicked off with this much glitz and glitter.
The inaugural Little Miss and Little Master WinterFest Pageant drew a small but energetic crowd from across the region Saturday, allowing youngsters from 2 months to 12 years an opportunity to strut their stuff.
The girls — and one baby boy — had to compete in beauty and winter wear categories and could also compete for best personality, best fashion, best smile, photogenic and talent if desired.For some, the competition required no prep work.
Two-month-old Brenna Raye Keister of Hudson, who eventually became Baby Miss WinterFest, appeared to be napping for part of the competition as her mother held her close. Nevertheless, she wooed the judges with her furry leopard-print ensemble for the winter wear category.
Pageant director Carolyn Marley informed the judges that Brenna's favorite food is milk.
Others, such as Catherine Mae Lilly of Shelby, must have pageants in her genes. She had every turn and every smile down, and her attire and “flipper,” a mouthpiece that gives the appearance of perfect teeth, made her look like a living doll.
She was accompanied by a small crowd of family members, including her older sister, Lauren Williams, who is also a pageant regular.
“It's just kind of what we do,” Williams said.
The pageant also showed that the girls are more than just pretty faces.
Contestants Leah Hampton, Rebeka Damron, Emily Shuford and Allysa Crawford wowed the judges and audience with clogging, a hula hoop routine, a gymnastic routine and graceful ballet.
The audience seemed to have just as much fun as the competitors did on stage.
“I think it's fascinating,” said Dovie McBrayer, a Banner Elk resident who went to support contestant Luci Pedroni. “She did great eye contact with the judges, which for her age is tough.”
The judges included the reigning Mrs. North Carolina, Debbie Miller of Mooresville, as well as WATA radio personality John Roten and retired attorney Sherrie Hodges.
Each of the contestants was dressed to the nines, often in heavily jeweled dresses and brightly colored getups coupled with bright smiles.
Dress designer Debra Cantor of Maiden, owner of Debbie's Ruffles and Glitz, attended Saturday to see how her fashions fared in competition.
A vivid green dress worn with frilly skirt and hundreds of crystals was among her “one-of-a-kind” designs. An average dress, Cantor said, takes a couple of weeks from start to finish.
“Every stone was put on that dress by hand,” Cantor said.
Despite the intensive preparation and the desire for success, there were no overbearing pageant moms to be found Saturday, the type made infamous by shows like “Toddlers and Tiaras.”
“I think TV is for drama and ratings, and that's not what pageants are all about,” Cantor said.
The inaugural Little Miss and Little Master WinterFest Pageant drew a small but energetic crowd from across the region Saturday, allowing youngsters from 2 months to 12 years an opportunity to strut their stuff.
The girls — and one baby boy — had to compete in beauty and winter wear categories and could also compete for best personality, best fashion, best smile, photogenic and talent if desired.For some, the competition required no prep work.
Two-month-old Brenna Raye Keister of Hudson, who eventually became Baby Miss WinterFest, appeared to be napping for part of the competition as her mother held her close. Nevertheless, she wooed the judges with her furry leopard-print ensemble for the winter wear category.
Pageant director Carolyn Marley informed the judges that Brenna's favorite food is milk.
Others, such as Catherine Mae Lilly of Shelby, must have pageants in her genes. She had every turn and every smile down, and her attire and “flipper,” a mouthpiece that gives the appearance of perfect teeth, made her look like a living doll.
She was accompanied by a small crowd of family members, including her older sister, Lauren Williams, who is also a pageant regular.
“It's just kind of what we do,” Williams said.
The pageant also showed that the girls are more than just pretty faces.
Contestants Leah Hampton, Rebeka Damron, Emily Shuford and Allysa Crawford wowed the judges and audience with clogging, a hula hoop routine, a gymnastic routine and graceful ballet.
The audience seemed to have just as much fun as the competitors did on stage.
“I think it's fascinating,” said Dovie McBrayer, a Banner Elk resident who went to support contestant Luci Pedroni. “She did great eye contact with the judges, which for her age is tough.”
The judges included the reigning Mrs. North Carolina, Debbie Miller of Mooresville, as well as WATA radio personality John Roten and retired attorney Sherrie Hodges.
Each of the contestants was dressed to the nines, often in heavily jeweled dresses and brightly colored getups coupled with bright smiles.
Dress designer Debra Cantor of Maiden, owner of Debbie's Ruffles and Glitz, attended Saturday to see how her fashions fared in competition.
A vivid green dress worn with frilly skirt and hundreds of crystals was among her “one-of-a-kind” designs. An average dress, Cantor said, takes a couple of weeks from start to finish.
“Every stone was put on that dress by hand,” Cantor said.
Despite the intensive preparation and the desire for success, there were no overbearing pageant moms to be found Saturday, the type made infamous by shows like “Toddlers and Tiaras.”
“I think TV is for drama and ratings, and that's not what pageants are all about,” Cantor said.