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Highlands Today

Celeste Breylinger Is New Junior Miss

Runner-Up: McKenzie Waldron

Jasmina Meyer/Highlands Today

Celeste Breylinger is announced the title of Jr. Miss Highlands County 2009 on stage at the Highlands County Fair on Friday in Sebring.

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By Gary Pinnell | Highlands Today

Published: January 24, 2009

Sebring, FL - Purchase Photos Through My Capture

In the group photo for the program, Celeste Breylinger is one of the six girls in the back row.

On Friday night, she was center stage after being picked by the judges as Junior Miss Highlands County.

"I think I won because I had confidence," said Celeste, 14, an Avon Park High School student who enjoys dance and softball. "I'm a happy person and I smiled a lot."

It must have worked with the three judges, Madonna and Donnie Arnold and Virginia Bryant, all from Okeechobee.

The 17 contestants strutted onto the stage in front of 300 people wearing straw hats and jeans to the music of "Boot Scootin' Boogie." They were led by Chelsea Qualls, the 2008 Junior Miss.

To get in the top five, contestants were judged on poise, personality, conversational ability and appearance. That criteria put Gina Haley, Rebecca Luepshen, McKenzie Waldron and Alana Nielander in the top five.

After the girls answered a final question – "Why do you think it's important to be a good role model?" – Alana was named fourth runner up, followed by Gina, Rebecca, McKenzie and Celeste.

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