Miss Hillcrest is one of the beloved traditions we carry out each year. It’s a time for the girls at Hillcrest to not just get a chance at scholarship money, but also an opportunity for an influential title, prize money, and the ability to make a difference. Some contestants find their way to this competition inadvertently, such as Ava Griggs (10), who was encouraged to try out by Mrs. Larsen. “I was messing around one day, and she [Mrs. Larsen] was like, ‘you’re pretty outgoing, I think you’d do great at Miss Hillcrest,’ and so, she showed me into it,” Ava Griggs (10) said.
One of the most uplifting and memorable moments for the contestants is the time spent with each other in the dressing room. “You’re so stunning, oh my gosh, I love your dress,” were just a few of many compliments that Ava Griggs (10) heard running around the room from the girls, encouraging their worthy adversaries before they stepped out onto the stage. Sydne Richens (11), the crowned victor of this year’s Miss Hillcrest, did a dance routine for her presentation, which took her an entire week (or more) to prepare! Despite all this preparation, Richens (11) says the most stressful part was “either the onstage question, that was stressful, and the interview. Just all the talking. Not so much the performing, I’ve been a performer for a while, but the talking got me.”
Undeterred by her win, meeting all the girls was still Sydne Richens’ (11) favorite part, showing just how great the community surrounding this event is. “No matter who won, everybody was supportive when it came to all of the girls, and not just the winner of Miss Hillcrest,” said Ary Jorgensen (10), who was the lightboard operator for this special occasion. In the end, Miss Hillcrest was more than a pageant with prizes—it was a reminder of what makes the Hillcrest community shine brightest: kindness, courage, and connection.
