First Little Miss Highlands County Crowned

The first Little Miss Highlands County contest incorporated a western motif for its inaugural event.

The entrance to the expo pavilion was adorned with "wanted" posters of the six contestants. Then, when the girls made their first appearance, they came out decked in cowboy, or cowgirl, hats, boots, jeans and wide smiles.

"I'm ready to get out there," contestant Ashleigh Slager said before the start of the competition.

Pageant coordinator Christie Spiegel said the decision was made to have a Little Miss contest to give the "young ladies a chance to kind of gear up for Junior Miss."

The girls went through a group interview, called meet and greet, and then did a sportswear competition, where they said their name and contestant number and thanked their sponsor.

"They'll be judged on poise, personality and speaking ability," Spiegel said.

From there, it was on to the dress competition. Then the three judges tabulated the scores.

At the end of the event, one "lil' cowgirl" emerged from the field to be crowned the first Little Miss Highlands County. That youngster was Nala Price, 9, a student at Heartland Christian School.

"I was happy and very excited," Price, a singing and acting fan, said following her victory.

After all the photos were taken, family members crowded around the newly crowned little miss to congratulate her on a job well done.

"I'm very proud of her," mom Karen Price said. "She worked very hard."