Miss Merry Christmas 2014
Miss Merry Christmas 2014 Jeslyn Blankenship. Photo courtesy of Kim Blankenship.
After 21 years as organizer, Priscilla Collums looks forward to one part of the Miss Merry Christmas Pageant more than others. Each year, she enjoys the transformation of the contestants.
“All of the girls look so simple the night of practice,” she said. “Then to see them all dressed up in their Christmas dresses or evening gowns, they all look beautiful.”
The Miss Merry Christmas Pageant began as an idea from a Chelsea High School PTO parent to fundraise for the Newspaper/Journalism class at the school. Since the State Department of Education provides no funds for the elective, Collums and the parent recognized its need for assistance.
The pageant is open to any girl living in Shelby County. Contestants send in applications to Chelsea Schools by late October. Judges are told to judge based on projection and confidence, poise, grooming, choice of attire and overall appearance. Each category is worth 10 points for a possible total score of 50 points.
Thirty-eight contestants participated in the 2014 pageant in five separate categories including birth to 4 years old, kindergarten to second-grade, third to fifth-grade, sixth to eighth-grade, and ninth to 12th grade. There is a winner ad well as a first, second and third alternate for each category.
Jeslyn Blankenship of Chelsea High School was named Miss Merry Christmas in the high school category. Dasha Myer received first alternate, Madison Smith received second alternate and Alexis Ransom received third alternate for the pageant. Winners receive the title of Miss Merry Christmas as well as a crown, trophy, banner and flowers. In years past, they have also ridden in the Chelsea Christmas Parade.
“Hopefully, all the girls gain some confidence about themselves by participating while helping the Newspaper/Journalism Department,” Collums said.
