Margaret Seay was named Ms. Pell High on Saturday in a contest more than 70 students signed up for. 

According to director Danielle Pope, the significant increase in interest was partly due to timing.

“Last year it was in the spring and too close to prom. Having it as the first big event of the year helps a lot,” Pope said.  

She said they also brought back a tradition having students nominate their peers for participation. There were also spots open for students who wanted to participate that weren’t nominated. 

Pope said the event is more than a pageant.

“It is an event to promote school spirit and recognize students who represent the spirit of Pell City High School. It is also a fundraiser for the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA).  The money is used to send students who win on a state level in FBLA to National Competition,” she said.

In previous years, there’s only been a Ms. Pell High or they’ve condensed the event down into one primary event, with 9-12 grade competition at the same time. This year, however, they broke up the competition based on grades, with 9th and 10th graders competing together and 11th and 12th graders competing together. Max Toohey took home the title of Mr. Pell High.

Ami’s and Glitz and Glamour of Pell City sponsored the event. Ami’s donated stage decorations and Glitz and Glamour lent dresses to both the emcees and the former reigning Miss Pell High. 

“The pageant helps students build confidence on stage and the interview process for seniors prepares them for future job interviews,” Pope said. “The only interviews I had ever done before my first job interview were pageant interviews and I do feel that they prepared me for the interview process- just being forced to have a conversation with people you don’t know helps a lot.”

Below are the winners for each age group, with favorites being presented in no particular order. 

9^th grade Mr. Pell High favorites:

Benjamin Parker Holmes

Bryson Clough

Payton Forman

Mr. Freshman Class – Jackson Sweatt

 

9^th grade Miss Pell High favorites:

Jaylynn Pinney

Savannah Brewster

Emma Munkus

Sasha Turner

Miss Freshman Class – Dylan Droxler

Miss Photogenic – Savannah Brewster

 

10^th grade Mr. Pell High favorites:

Mr. Sophomore Class – Andrew Williams

 

10^th grade Miss Pell High favorites:

Braxton Belle Rich

Elizabeth Trawick

Shelby Bittles

Chloe Brown

Miss Sophomore Class – Yordaly Martinez

Miss Photogenic – Braxton Belle Rich  

 

11^th grade Mr. Pell High favorites:

Matthew Owens

Kolton Fincher

Jeffrey Wills

Jayden Martin

 

Mr. Junior Class – Braxton Lee

 

11^th grade Miss Pell High favorites:

Savannah Mock

Anna Shaddix

Hannah Boone

Mary Beth Robinson

 

Miss Junior Class – Ramsie Stasko

Best Interview – Abby Minor

Miss Photogenic – Mary Beth Robinson

 

12^th grade Mr. Pell High favorites:

Logan Estell

Trevor Howard

Gaitlin Roberson

Justin Thomas

 

Mr. Personality – Gaitlin Roberson

Mr. Pell High – Max Toohey

 

12^th grade Miss Pell High favorites:

Macy Tucker

Julia Funderburg

Hallie Kate Hannah

Keneshia Mahan

 

Miss Pell High – Margaret Seay

Miss Congeniality – Julia Funderburg 

Miss Photogenic – Margaret Seay