KINGSTON — One would have thought Kingston Junior High was a perfect Emerald City, with all the glitter and glamour of the 38th annual Miss Kingston pageant on Saturday night.
With the silhouette of the Seattle skyline as the backdrop for the stage, Canon K.D. Henness was crowned Miss Kingston 2002. Lizzie Blomquist and Jordan Mori rounded out the royal court as princesses.
“I’ve been dreaming about this for a very long time and I didn’t feel like I was alive,” said Henness, shortly after being named Miss Kingston.
Henness performed a dramatic monologue, “Roma,” about a young lady who discusses how she feels, not only about herself but about her relationship with Jesus as well.
For the impromptu question, based on the essays the girls wrote earlier, Henness chatted easily about fly fishing and senior citizens.
She said she would sit down with the senior citizens and have conversations with them “…and treat them as antiques because they are that special.”
Henness’ mother, Kathleen Wright, was in shock, but was also not surprised about her daughter’s win. She said this was one of Henness’ dreams and it was just part of her life goals.
“I’m so proud of her,” said Wright. “She’s a great daughter and she’s just achieved one of her goals.”
Blomquist performed “Concerto in D major” on the flute and discussed her essay issue on modesty in the community. She said the virtue means respecting oneself, one’s body and others through appropriate dress. She said she would also like to bring modesty into schools by creating a documentary.
Mori performed Bette Midler’s, “The Rose” and discussed the Alive Shelter in her essay and during the impromptu questioning. She said she would like to hold a bake sale to raise money for the Shelter “…because everyone likes cookies and stuff like that.”
She would also let the victims know they have a friend, are cared about and loved.
The three-hour long show included presentations of past Miss Kingstons and honored the most recent royal court, Miss Kingston 2001 Kayla Cundiff and Princess Ashley Zygar and Princess Anna Zeman.
The audience was entertained by the local group, Tune Din, which is ranked sixth in the world in barbershop quartets. The contestants and royalty also performed for the crowd, with a 1920s theme, donning red-fringed flapper dresses and dancing to “Muskrat Ramble.”
Henness won a $1,000 dollar scholarship and will lead her court in Kingston’s July 4th parade. She will also make many appearances over the next year.
The judges were Terry Thomas, Cindy Baco and Jennifer Corbin and Chanda Marvel-Disanti. The girls were judged on personal interview (completed prior to the pageant) (30 percent), creative display (30 percent), evening gown (10 percent), two impromptu questions (20 percent) and the secret judge (10 percent). Directors, Allison Morrison and Leslie Burns gave contestants individual awards as well as special awards. Blomquist received the Spirit Award, Sarah Eddy received the Director’s Award and Melissa Dieckmann received the Best Essay Award.
