Fourteen contestants will take the stage Saturday evening for the 2019 Miss Grays Harbor & Outstanding Teen Pageant.
The scholarship program is open to young women of the Grays Harbor community who are interested in a leadership role that fosters community service. This is the first step toward Miss America for girls between ages 13 and 17 in Outstanding Teen, or ages 18 to 23 in Miss Grays Harbor.
Liisa Mayberry and Nikki Elledge are sharing executive director duties this year.
“It is always bittersweet as we prepare to say goodbye to our current titleholders and welcome the new girls,” said Mayberry. “We would like to thank Kuinn (Karaffa) and Mercedes (Morrill) for an amazing year as Miss Grays Harbor and Miss Grays Harbor’s Outstanding Teen. They are both smart, talented, driven young women who will go on to do great things with their lives.”
They also will be on hand Saturday to crown their successors, according to tradition.
“I have met so many amazing people of our beautiful Grays Harbor community, and will continue my community service to the Harbor,” said Karaffa, who recently accepted a position with a local law firm. “I wish the next Miss Grays Harbor as much success as I have had.”
She added that she will continue as a board member of Habitat for Humanity which was her platform.
The program “provides opportunities for young women to expand their quest for knowledge and acquire skills to better equip them for future opportunities,” according to a press release. “Most importantly, participants will have many occasions to develop their leadership skills, resulting in a greater sense of awareness of their potential.”
The pageant will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday at the 7th Street Theatre in Hoquiam. Tickets are $25 general admission. For an extra $10, Golden Circle tickets allow early entry, pre-event hors d’oeuvres, a program book and preferred seating.
Tickets are available at Harbor Drug, through individual contestants and staff members, or at the door.
“We wish all of the contestants the best of luck,” said Mayberry. “We have enjoyed working with and getting to know each girl over the past couple of months.”
(Keith J. Krueger) Miss Grays Harbor contestant Courtney Glenn, 18, is a freshman at Grays Harbor College. Her platform is mental health education, and she will sing on Saturday.
(Keith J. Krueger) Miss Grays Harbor contestant Grace Aiken, 19, is a junior at Washington State University. Her platform is WAGS (Winning Academically and Growing Students), and she will be dancing.
(Keith J. Krueger) Miss Grays Harbor contestant Kiarra Rothwell, 18, is a senior at Hoquiam High School. Her platform is schizophrenia awareness, and she will be doing a monologue.
(Keith J. Krueger) Miss Grays Harbor contestant Kylie Shepard, 22, holds a master’s degree in forensic psychology. Her platform is dyspraxia awareness, and her talent is dancing.
(Keith J. Krueger) Miss Grays Harbor contestant Paicyn Dragoo, 17, served as Grays Harbor Outstanding Teen in 2017. She is a senior at Aberdeen High School. Her platform is Younglife, and she will be performing American Sign Language.
(Keith J. Krueger) Miss Grays Harbor contestant Payton Parshall, 17, is a senior at Hoquiam High School. Her platform is fighting homelessness, and she will be performing American Sign Language.
(Keith J. Krueger) Outstanding Teen contestant Ellie Winkleman, 14, is a freshman at Hoquiam High School. Her platform is reducing the use of plastic bags. She will be dancing.
(Keith J. Krueger) Outstanding Teen contestant Kathryn Thomas, 15, is a sophomore at Montesano High School. Her platform is dementia and Alzheimer’s awareness, and she will play the flute.
(Keith J. Krueger) Outstanding Teen contestant Kaya Aiken, 17, is a junior at Elma High School. Her platform is WAGS (Winning Academically and Growing Students), and her talent is dance.
(Keith J. Krueger) Outstanding Teen contestant Macy Holcomb, 15, is a freshman at Montesano High School. Her platform is clothing the community. She will be singing.
(Keith J. Krueger) Outstanding Teen contestant Morgan Lamont, 17, is a junior at Capital High School. Her platform is young women in sports. She will be singing.
(Keith J. Krueger) Outstanding Teen contestant Shayli Burlingame, 15, is a sophomore at Aberdeen High School. Her platform is bullying prevention, and she will be singing.
(Keith J. Krueger) Outstanding Teen contestant Sierra Severance, 14, is a freshman at Oakland Bay Junior High in Shelton. Her platform is mental health awareness, and her talent is Butokukan karate.
(Keith J. Krueger) Outstanding Teen contestant Sophia Da Silva, 15, is a freshman at Montesano High School. Her platform is LGBTQA+ education for teens and adults. She will be dancing on Saturday.
