BY KADIE VICK
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
LAFAYETTE — LaFayette Main Street is hosting its second annual Miss LaFayette Main Street Pageant on June 14 for girls ages 3 to 18.
“The pageant was just another way that we felt that we could invest in our young people and in our community. We also want to give back to LaFayette and bring people in from all over to see our downtown,” Executive Director of LaFayette Main Street DeAnna Hand said.
Through the establishment of this event last year, Hand sought to bring a pageant back to LaFayette so local girls would have the ability to practice leadership and service to improve and invest in their community.
“Pageants serve to help young girls with personal development and empowerment. It gives them a way to pursue their goals and make a positive impact on their community,” Hand said. “I want the Miss LaFayette Main Street Pageant to be more than just beauty and more than just competing for a crown. I want it to be a way for the girls to give back and feel empowered to have different skills and strengths.”
The Miss LaFayette Main Street Pageant is a reflection of Hand’s desire to create local events to promote community pride and engagement, and attract those who do not live in the community to visit downtown LaFayette.
She said, “Since our establishment in 2022, LaFayette Main Street has been hitting the ground running on promoting our downtown revitalization efforts and driving in more tourism. We have really been looking for creative ways to introduce people to LaFayette who may have never been to Lafayette.”
Girls will compete in one of five categories: Tiny Miss for ages 3 to 5, Little Miss for ages 6 to 8, Young Miss for ages 9 to 11, Junior Miss for ages 12 to 14 and Miss for ages 15 to 18. General registration costs $40, and to compete in the general competition, the photogenic competition and the Sportswear/Outfit of Choice competition is $60 total.
“The girls who are participating can expect a day full of fun and full of meeting new people from LaFayette and nearby towns. Last year, we had girls come from Sylacauga, Birmingham, Valley, Auburn, Opelika and more,” Hand said. “Throughout the day, the girls are networking and building relationships with each other. It’s just a lot of fun. We encourage them to talk and just enjoy the day of being dressed up and feeling great about themselves.”
Hand hopes that the girls who participate in the Miss LaFayette Main Street Pageant will have the same positive experience she did when she participated as a young girl.
“I just remember the impact that pageants made on me as a young girl, and how it really helped me develop professional and personal skills. I was also empowered to use charitable platforms as Miss Lafayette. I worked closely with our sheriff at the time and traveled throughout the county promoting different activities to embrace our community,” she said.
The top three girls in each category will receive a prize, and all of the ladies who compete will be presented with a single rose. The LaFayette title winner will be awarded a crown, sash and a bouquet of fresh flowers. To sign up to participate, visit the LaFayette Main Street on Facebook.
