Miss SML Pageant crowns two

Jordan

Saturday's Miss Smith Mountain Lake Pageant came with a twist. There were two titles up for grabs.

"We didn't announce we were going to do a second title until maybe only a week before we had the pageant," said Dawn Erdman, co-director of the two pageants.

The second title, Miss Blue Ridge, was resurrected on Saturday after several years of not being awarded. Similarly, the Miss SML Pageant was resurrected last year after a several-year hiatus.

Erdman said she and Executive Director Cindy Stump decided to host both pageants about two weeks prior because a few local pageants around the state were canceled this year.

The two directors wanted to fill in one of the empty slots to help keep the Miss Virginia pageant viable, said Erdman. She said the economy may be to blame for the drop in the number of local pageants.

"It's not cheap to put a pageant on," said Erdman. "It's not cheap to be a contestant either."

Twelve girls competed for the two titles on Saturday. The top scorer, Victoria Jordan of Coeburn and a student at Liberty University, was crowned Miss SML. The second top scorer, Sarah Lee Fitzpatrick of Florida and also a student at Liberty University, was crowned Miss Blue Ridge.

Erdman said they also awarded first, second and third runners-up. Should either Jordan or Fitzpatrick win the Miss Virginia Pageant, the first runner-up would take her place.

Bootie Bell Chewning, executive producer of the Miss Virginia Pageant, said stacked pageants such as the Miss SML/Miss Blue Ridge pageant aren't common, but perfectly legal. Miss Greater Franklin County and Miss Martinsville combined one year, she said.

The Miss SML/Miss Blue Ridge Pageant was held at Virginia Western Community College and was emceed by former Miss Virginia contestant Amanda Stump of Roanoke and Miss SML 2009 Chinah Helmandollar of Hardy.

Other titles awarded at Saturday's pageant included Miss SML Outstanding Teen, Lauren Waldron of Roanoke; Miss SML Outstanding Preteen, Mary-Kendall Prillaman of Rocky Mount; and Miss William Byrd High School Outstanding Teen, Jenna O'Leary of Roanoke.

For more information, visit www.misssml.webs.com.