Miss Georgia and Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen contestants aren’t making their judges’ jobs easy.
A parade of talented young women sang, dance, spoke, even speed painted and performed tae kwon do during he first night of preliminary competition in the pageant. At the end of the night, the judges made a seemingly impossible decision: Who should win the preliminary awards that night.
Miss Southeast Georgia Alyssa Beasley won a preliminary talent award for her lyrical dance performance set to “When Your Feet Don’t Touch the Ground” by Ellie Goulding. The Kennesaw State University student showed incredible command of challenging choreography, pirouetting, flipping and leaping across the stage at the River Center in Columbus.
Miss Georgia 2017: Meet the metro Atlanta women vying for the crown
Miss Georgia's Outstanding Teen 2017: Meet metro Atlanta contestants
Beasley emerged victorious in a field crowded with incredible talents. Miss Atlanta Paula Smith belted out James Brown’s “It’s A Man’s World,” evoking the Godfather of Soul in a stark white pantsuit instead of the typical rhinestoned pageant gown.
University of Georgia majorette Jameson Kenerly, competing as Miss Capital City, stunned the crowd with a stirring blend of lyrical dance and baton twirling. Kenerly dazzled in a glittering blue leotard as she performed the baton routine set to “Memory” from the musical “Cats.”
Miss University of Georgia Hanna Holley was also a winner Tuesday night. She earned the preliminary award for lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit. The swimsuit competition is scored based on each contestant’s physical fitness, stage presence and confidence.
Acworth native Carley Vogel, competing as Miss Coastal Empire’s Outstanding Teen, won a preliminary talent award for an operatic vocal performance. In a frilly red dress and dramatically wielding a fan, 16-year-old Vogel made her 90-second song a complete theatrical performance.
Two teen contestants shared the preliminary award for on-stage question and evening gown. Miss Greater Atlanta’s Outstanding Teen Rory Pan and Miss International City’s Outstanding Teen Annie Swan tied for the award, which is scored based on the answer to an on-stage question and the contestants’ modeling of an evening gown.
Contestants compete in preliminary competition for three nights. The scores they earn determine if they move forward to the final competition on Saturday for Miss Georgia or Friday for Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen. Preliminary awards are given each night to contestants who score highest in certain categories.
Preliminary competition resumes Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Miss Georgia and Miss Georgia's Outstanding Teen are being broadcast online for free by Columbus news station WRBL-TV. You can find out when and how to watch here.
