By Kadin Pounders

For the FCT

The Watermelon Festival Beauty Pageant took place July 18. Over 50 girls from all over Franklin County participated in the annual pageant.

Participants ranged from infants to 21 year olds and were split into different categories based on age. Three judges determined a queen and first and second alternates in each age group, but girls in each division were also given awards based on other criteria as well.

“This year we’ve added some categories, so of course there’s (most photogenic), and there’s also a prize for the prettiest hair, prettiest dress and prettiest smile,” said Cassie Medley, Executive Director of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. “Their stage presence and their personality on stage is judged, too.”

Watermelon queens in each age group all have a ceremonious role in the Watermelon Festival.

“We have winners from each age category, and they’ll be at the Watermelon Festival when we kick things off,” said Medley. “The pageant queen will award all the prizes for money and contests.”

The Watermelon Queen is also responsible for cutting the first watermelon at the Watermelon Festival’s opening ceremony. She will ride in the Russellville Christmas parade and will crown next year’s Watermelon Queen.

This year’s Miss Watermelon is Lacey Lane Brekeen, who beat out four other ladies to win the crown.

“I am honored for the privilege of this title and to be a part of Franklin County history,” said Brekeen, a 20-year-old Red Bay native. “I couldn’t be more excited, and I am so thankful God has blessed me with this opportunity.”

The newly-crowned Miss Watermelon has been competing in beauty pageants since she was 9 and said she believes beauty pageants are all about making connections with other girls and having a good time.

“My favorite thing about pageants is getting all dolled up and having fun and also meeting all different types of girls and making new friends,” she said. “You win some (pageants), you lose some, but you go out on stage in your dress and hair and makeup done to a T, and it makes you feel beautiful. You do the best you can do and have fun. That’s what it’s all about.”

Building confidence on stage and bringing that confidence to other pageants later on in life is one of the goals of the pageant, according to Medley.

Michelle Murray, mother of Teen Miss Watermelon contestant Emily Murray, said that looks are not everything. Intangibles that can be taken away from the pageant by the girls personally is what makes the pageant important.

“Confidence is important, and that’s my biggest takeaway from it,” she said. “Self-esteem and being out on stage in front of people and your peers (is important) too.”

Pageant queens from this year’s Watermelon Festival Beauty Pageant will be presented at the Watermelon Festival in downtown Russellville on Aug. 14 and at the Roxy Theater on Aug. 15.