|
|
The Miss Danish Festival Queen’s Court was selected at the conclusion of Saturday’s annual Miss Danish Festival Scholarship Pageant at the Greenville Area Community Center. Pictured, front row from left, are Prince Maxwell Moore and Princess Francesca Osmolinski; center row from left, Junior Miss Elle Mahone, Junior Miss First Runner-up Brynn Watson, Miss Danish Festival Audrey Belding, Young Miss Curerah Vivoda, and Miss Danish Festival Second Runner-up Marleigh Ingles; back row from left, Junior Miss Second Runner-up Hazel Araujo; Young Miss First Runner-up Brooke Lindquist, Young Miss Second Runner-up Tatum Anderson, Miss Danish Festival First Runner-up Alec Force and Miss Danish Festival Third Runner-up Charlotte Zick. — DN Photo | Cory Smith
GREENVILLE — Audrey Belding will start her senior year at Greenville High School on Aug. 18.
The 17-year-old has been active in school, with this year culminating with her serving as senior class president, DECA president and a member of the Village Green. She is used to serving at school.
After completing an internship this summer at the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce, Belding decided she also wanted to serve her community.
“I decided one way I could do that was to try out the Miss Danish Festival Queen’s pageant,” said Belding, the daughter of Christopher and Andrea Belding of Greenville. “It is really a year of doing community service projects.”
A rookie to the pageant world, Belding walked away with numerous awards on Saturday, including the title of Miss Danish Festival.
PHOTO GALLERY
Four contestants vied in various phases of competition, including private interviews with the judges (25%), on-stage question (20%), evening wear (10%), talent (25 %), essay (15%) and lifestyle showcase (5%).
Belding was announced the winner of highest overall talent ($20 gift card), essay ($20 gift card), Miss Congeniality ($20 gift card), top ad sales ($50 gift card), and Miss Danish Festival ($1,000 scholarship), along with a scholarship for Montcalm Community College.
Belding’s on-stage question pertained to her favorite events of the Danish Festival, which she said was inclusive, so there was something for everyone, and it was a safe environment.
Her evening wear attire was a red multi-tiered gown with sequins and she donned a red dress with a pickleball racquet for her active lifestyle costume.
Her talent selection was a vocal, singing in Danish “Elefantens Vuggevise,” translated to “Elephants Lullaby.” She chose a white, sequined midi dress for the talent portion of the competition.
Throughout the year, Belding will promote her platform, which is “Embracing Your Diversity.” She hopes to show inclusivity and how it is important to be a support to others who may need help.
Serving the year with Belding will be First Runner-up Alec Force, 18; Second Runner-up Marleigh Ingles, 18; and Third Runner-up Charlotte Zick, 20.
“The queen and court will be in numerous parades over Danish Festival, including the Fairy Tale Parade, the Firemen’s Parade, the Grand Dansk Parade,” said Miss Danish Festival Pageant Director Alexa Neumann. “They will be at the flag raising on Wednesday, and numerous events over the weekend. They will have three full, heavy days.”
Throughout the year-long reign, they will participate in many community service projects, she added.
“They usually do at least two projects each month,” said Neumann, “We will do Night To Shine, make Valentine’s cards, distribute Easter eggs, be in the Christmas parade, help with the triathlon, help with the Yellow Jacket Challenge, and be in many parades.”
Rounding out the court are: Young Miss Curerah Vivoda, 15; Young Miss First Runner Up Brooke Lindquist, 15; and Young Miss Second Runner Up Tatum Anderson, 15.
Elle Mahone, 12, will serve as Junior Miss with Brynn Watson, 12, as Junior Miss First Runner-up and Hazel Araujo, 11, as Jr Miss Second Runner-up.
Francesca Osmolinski was chosen as Danish Festival Princess and Maxwell Moore was awarded the title of Danish Festival Prince.
