Pictured, from left, the Miss Leeds Area Outstanding Teen winners: second runner-up Kelsey Smith, Miss Leeds Area Outstanding Teen 2013 Brooklyn Holt, Miss Leeds Area Outstanding Teen 2012 Makenzie Roberson, first runner-up and physical fitness winner Myrah Taylor and talent winner Mikaylah Dugans.

Sequins sparkled and smiles shined when contestants decided to “Turn Up the Music” at the Miss Leeds Area 2013 pageant.

Competing in fitness, swimsuit, talent and evening gowns, 25 young women vied for the chance to win the titles of Miss Leeds Area (MLA) and Miss Leeds Area Outstanding Teen (MLAOT).

Shelby Beddingfield, Elisabeth Chramer, Holland Brown, Sydney Waldrop, Christina Myers, Katie Gilhooly, Mi’a Callens, Haley Barber, Catelyn Swindall, Elizabeth Anne Beasley, Meschelle Stringer, Callie Boyd, Chandler Champion, Cassidy Jacks and Elizabeth Steers faced off for the tiara, sash and tile of MLA.

Kelsey Smith, Isabella Powell, Caitlyn McTier, Allison Beason, Brooklyn Holt, Mikaylah Dugans, Olivia Kurosaka, Rebekah Britton, Myrah Taylor and SaVanna McLaughlin challenged one another for the chance to be MLAOT.

Immediately these ladies were thinking on their feet as the on stage questions were asked. Topics from the nation’s obesity problem to bullying to should non-violent criminals be allowed to serve shorter sentences due to rising prison costs were covered.

When one contestant was asked, “What is the biggest problem our nation faces right now?”

She replied, “Money for education.”

Another was asked if hip-hop mogul Sean “P. Diddy” Combs’ son Justin, who was awarded a full paid scholarship to play football for the UCLA Bruins, should have accepted the money.

She replied, “I believe anyone who has worked their whole life for something should be able to receive the reward.”

Complementing the girls on how well they answered, Anna Laura Bryan, the recently crowned 2012 Miss Alabama, said, “It’s really nerve wracking to come on stage on do that, but they all handled it with grace and intelligence.”

Hosting her first preliminary, Anna Laura guided the ladies to their next feat—the talent competition.

Energizing the crowd with flute, ballet en pointe, piano, saxophone, vocal, tap, clogging, contemporary, lyrical and jazz routines, the talent competition brought many in the audience to their feet.

Exuding poise and confidence the ladies made their way through the evening gown portion of the night.

Before crowning the next MLA and MLAOT, Susan Hamm, MLA 2012 and MLAOT 2012 Makenzie Roberson expressed their sentiments of what representing Leeds meant to them over the past year.

“I have loved being your Miss Leeds Area,” said Hamm. “I cannot say thank you enough. It’s been a privilege to represent you.”

“I think of Leeds as my second home,” said Roberson. “This is an amazing town and being Miss Leeds Area Outstanding Teen has changed me for the better.”

Sandra McGuire, MLA Pageant Director and Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, thanked both of them for their service.

“You have been visions of poise and grace. We wish you the best of luck and we’re always rooting for you,” McGuire said.

After making their final walks across the stage, Hamm and Roberson readied themselves to pass on their respective titles.

The moment all the candidates had been waiting for had finally arrived—the announcement of the winners.

Winners in the MLAOT Competition:

* Talent Winner – Mikaylah Dugans

* 2nd runner-up – Kelsey Smith

* 1st runner-up & Physical Fitness winner – Myrah Taylor

* Miss Leeds Area’s Outstanding Teen 2013 – Brooklyn Holt

Winners in the MLA Competition:

* Aspiring Educator Award – Holland Brown

* Michelle Porter Community Service Award – Meschelle Stringer

* 4th runner-up – Haley Barber

* 3rd runner-up – Mi’a Callens

* 2nd runner-up – Elizabeth Anne Beasley

* 1st runner-up – Elisabeth Chramer

* Miss Leeds Area 2013 – Chandler Champion (Leeds resident)

Chandler also won talent and swimsuit awards as well as Owen Drake Leadership Award.

Accompanying her during her reign as MLA 2013, Champion chose her sister Zoe as the 2013 Miss Leeds Area Rising Star, which is a mentoring program that connects girls from ages seven to eleven with Miss Alabama contestants.

Representing the Leeds area throughout the next year both Holt and Champion will participate in the state pageants hoping to claim the titles of Miss Alabama Outstanding Teen and Miss Alabama.