PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The 2014 Little and Junior Miss Presque Isle Pageant, held April 12 at the Presque Isle Middle School, raised over $4,000 for its sponsor, United Way of Aroostook.
Walking away with top honors for the evening were newly-crowned Little Miss Presque Isle 2014 Olivia Grace Levesque and Junior Miss Presque Isle 2014 Yessenia Vilar.
Jason Parent served as emcee for the evening. Judges included Cindy Flanagan, Haley Johnston and Sue Powers. Serving as auditors were Christine Fox and Jenny McPherson.
Contestants were judged in four categories. Interviews accounted for 30 percent of their score, with casual wear representing 20 percent, talent was 30 percent and evening gowns covered20 percent.
The show began with the girls’ opening number, a dance routine with the theme of “Shine Bright Like a Diamond/Reach for the Stars.” Visiting queens were then introduced.
The talent portion of the event kicked off with the Little Miss contestants taking to the stage. Levesque, daughter of Chris and Christi Levesque, danced to “The Evolution of Dance.” In addition to being named Little Miss, Levesque was recognized as Little Miss Personality.
Alexis Davenport, daughter of Randie and Candace Davenport, clogged to “Wild-Flower,” earning first runner-up for her effort; she was also named Little Miss Sunshine.
Asiah Rae Wright, daughter of Tammy Wright, performed a baton/hula hoop routine to “Happy.” She was named Little Miss Leadership.
Little Miss Presque Isle 2013 Jorja Lynds Maynard, daughter of Jonathan and Lyndsey Maynard, said she enjoyed doing all the parades with her sister queens, meeting people and taking part in February’s biathlon festivities. Maynard danced one last time to “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.”
Next on stage were the Junior Miss contestants.
Performing first was Maddison Cleaves, daughter of Alan and Carli Cleaves. She performed a self-choreographed modern dance to “Breath of Life.” Cleaves was named Miss Congeniality.
Vilar clogged to “Happy” for her talent, on her way to being named Junior Miss Presque Isle. She’s the daughter of Jason and Jasmine Cote.
Casey Shea Estabrook, daughter of Clif and Heidi Estabrook, performed a lyrical dance to “Let It Go.” She was named Miss Hospitality for raising $1,707 for the annual fundraiser.
Kacie Chapman sang “Glitter and Gold” for her talent. The daughter of Travis and Kellie Chapman, she was named first runner-up.
Miranda Paige Drost, daughter of Joe and Bobby Pelkey and John and Kristie Drost, performed a dance and gymnastics routine to “Let It Go,” choreographed by Danielle Peterson. She received the Spirit Award.
Junior Miss Presque Isle 2013 Mayce Taylor Kinney, daughter of Jirad and Kim Kinney, said her sister queens were so nice and she’d miss them. Her top experience for the year was taking part in the Potato Blossom Festival. She said she enjoyed seeing old friends and making new ones. Following her vocal performance of Pink’s “Glitter in the Air,” Parent urged Kinney to “join Northern Star to support another United Way event next year.”
The competition concluded with each contestant gracing the stage for the evening gown portion of the pageant, with each sharing what they thought made them “shine bright like a diamond.”
Maynard made her final appearance as reigning Little Miss Presque Isle, escorted for her farewell walk by her father. Darrian Corey, Miss Presque Isle 2014, entertained by playing John Lennon’s “Imagine” on piano. Then it was Kinney’s turn to take her final walk as Junior Miss Presque Isle, on the arm of her father.
Maynard and Kinney then joined the contestants for the Parade of Gowns, as the judges tallied the final figures. Awards were then announced, with Levesque and Vilar being crowned the winners.
Levesque and Vilar will now assume the duties as representatives for the city of Presque Isle, attending various functions and parades in the coming year, including the Potato Blossom Festival in Fort Fairfield come July. Should either of them win the title of Potato Queen, the duties of Little Miss and Junior Miss Presque Isle 2014 will go to the first runners-up, Davenport and Chapman.
