Winners From Opening Night of Preliminary Competition at Miss Missouri in Mexico

(Story Contribution to Leslie Meyer)

Preliminary competition in the Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen Pageant continued Wednesday evening at Missouri Military Academy in Mexico.

Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen candidates were divided into two competition groups: the crown group and the sash group. Members of the sash group competed in talent, which accounts for 40% of the preliminary competition score.

(All Photo Credits to Ryan Miles of JC Productions)

The judges selected Miss Spirit of St. Louis’ Outstanding Teen Cynthia Liu as the rookie talent award winner. Cynthia performed a ribbon dance. She is the daughter of Tom Liu and Min Guo of St. Louis. Cynthia is currently a student at Clayton High School.

For the overall talent award in the sash group, the judges selected Miss Metro St. Louis Ashley Berry. She performed a ballet en pointe. Ashley is the daughter of Mark and Amy Berry of Clinton. She is currently a student at Clinton High School.

The Miss candidates were divided into two groups, Sigma and Alpha. Members of the Sigma group competed in talent while members of the Alpha group competed in red carpet and on-stage question. The talent portion of the competition accounts for 35% of the overall score in the preliminaries. The red carpet and on-stage question is 15% of the candidates’ overall scores.

For the rookie talent award, the judges selected Miss Moberly Sophia Milhollin of Moberly. As the rookie award winner, she will receive a $250 scholarship.

The judges picked Miss Gateway St. Louis Holly Enowski as the overall talent award winner. She played a melody on the marimba. Holly is the daughter of Bob and Lisa Enowski of Eldon. She will receive a $500 scholarship for winning this portion of the competition.

Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen candidates were divided into two competition groups: the crown group and the sash group. Members of the crown group competed in on-stage question and the evening wear portion of the competition. The evening wear and on-stage question accounts for 15% of the overall preliminary score.

In the crown group, the judges selected Miss St. Charles County’s Outstanding Teen Hannah Whatley Blaine, the daughter of Jim and Nancy Whatley-Blaine of St. Louis as the rookie evening gown and on-stage question winner. Hannah chose a strapless, full-length purple ball gown with multi-colored sequin detail at the waist. Her platform, Check Up, Check In focuses on the importance of reaching out to friends and family to check on their mental health. Hannah attends Nerinx Hall High School.

The judges selected Miss River City’s Outstanding Teen Elizabeth Moots, the daughter of Eric and Stacy Moots of Kirksville. Elizabeth wore a full-length, strapless, beaded yellow ball gown with a satin train. Her platform, “Victim to Victor – Type 1 Diabetes Awareness” focuses on her journey as a teen with diabetes and how she does not let the illness conquer her day. Elizabeth is a student at Kirksville High School.