Jr. Miss pageant builds friendships, confidence

First African-American contestant crowned in pageant’s 21-year history

The Junior Miss Pittsylvania County Pageant returned with its Comeback Tour after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

There was also a first for the 21-year old fundraising event, as Gabrielle Garrett-Hunter, 11, was the first African American girl to win a title at the pageant, as she was crowned pre-teen Jr. Miss Pittsylvania County. 

Caroline Jones was crowned petite Junior Miss and Carey Dallas was crowned teen Jr. Miss Pittsylvania County.

The pageant featured girls ages five to 18 performing in casual and formal wear contests. 

Four teens competed in the talent section, where they showed their skills as singers, musicians and dancers for the crowd.

Overall, 25 girls performed on the stage at Chatham High School to nearly a full house.

The winning contestants will make appearances at local events like Christmas parades and National Night Out, as well as promote a service platform until next year. 

The girls spent multiple nights before the pageant practicing their walks, preparing questions and getting ready for the pageant.

“We’re like literally so exhausted. And it’s the culmination of all the hard work that has gone into this. I am excited for the new girls and hopeful that everybody’s had an amazing experience,” said pageant director Kimberly Dooley.

Reactions to the pageant experience were as varied as the girls themselves. 

Garrett-Hunter said performing for the first time was a daunting experience. 

Garrett-Hunter wore a school sports jacket with a red and black skirt and white and black boots for casual wear. For her formal wear, she wore an elegant yellow gown.

“It’s a new experience. So I’m learning a lot about how to walk,” said Garrett-Hunter. She explained that she had to learn to walk a certain way to look her best for the judges. “It was rough at the start, but I kept practicing and practicing, and now I have got it down.” 

Elizabeth Grace Carter, 6, said that she enjoys playing with animals and walking on the beach.

“My favorite part of the pageant is wearing a gown,” Carter said.

Over the years, the pageant has become more focused on Pittsylvania County girls, according to Kate Clatterbuck, Miss Virginia volunteer, who hosted next to Kristin Harris. Clatterbuck began her pageant career in Pittsylvania County by competing in the Junior Miss Pittsylvania County.

“I walked out a first runner-up after my very first pageant, and I felt like I had the competence of just someone super accomplished. And from that experience, I just really enjoyed the knowledge I gained about myself,” said Clatterbuck.

Clatterbuck would continue her career throughout high school and college. These pageants need to be more understood, said Dooley, adding that they provide the girls added confidence.

“To see the confidence boost and to see the girls have a blast and meet friends, some of these girls they met through Junior Miss, and they’re so close now,” said Dooley.

Alyssa McDaniel is the 2020 Junior Miss Pittsylvania County teen division winner. She had to relinquish the title on Saturday to Carey Dallas, who won the title. McDaniel started doing pageants in fourth grade and won the title in 2020, right before COVID-19 shut everything down. 

“It’s extremely bittersweet because this is the last pageant I’ll probably ever be a part of,” McDaniel said.

She, alongside her other pageant queens, Petite winner Emaleigh Auther and Pre-teen winner Briana Purdy have held their titles for three years.

“Many people misunderstand pageants because they think you just walk on the stage, smile and get judged on what you look like. And that’s completely not the truth. You make friendships you didn’t even know you needed,” McDaniel said.

The winners of the pageant were as follows: 

Ad sales 

Sydney Faith Prior

Congeniality

Mini: Saige Taylor

Petite: Delaney Moore

Pre-Teen: Gabrielle Garrett-Hunter

Teen: Tie with Francisca Popoca and Lillian Burke

Photogenic

Mini:  Saige Taylor

Petite:  Ani Doolin

Pre-Teen:  Gabrielle Garrett-Hunter

Teen:  Ava Graye Simpson

Overall photogenic winner: Ani Doolin

Mini Division

Mini Princess Court: Elizabeth Grace Carter, Paisley Gail Piccolo and Adalyn Grace Thompson

2nd Runner Up: Stella Lillie Flora

1st Runner Up:  Araya Skye McKinney

2023 Junior Miss Pittsylvania County Mini: Saige Tinsley 

Petite Division

2nd Runner Up:  Ani Lane Doolin,

1st Runner Up: Kinsley Grace Oakes

2023 Junior Miss Pittsylvania County Petite: Caroline Lucy Jones

Pre-Teen Division

2nd Runner Up: Madison Danielle Barker

1st Runner Up: Khloe Isabelle Sample

2023 Junior Miss Pittsylvania County Pre-Teen: Gabrielle Garrett-Hunter, 

Teen Division

Talent: Carey Lane Dallas

1st Runner Up: Ava Graye Simpson

2023 Junior Miss Pittsylvania County Teen: Carey Layne Dallas