(PHOTOS BY BREANA RELIFORD / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
WINNERS AND RUNNER-UPS … The runners-up take the responsibility of the winner if they are unable to fulfill their duties throughout the year.
FINAL WALK … Outgoing queen Avyonna Hamrick takes her final walk serving as Queen Miss Edon 2024 with her parents escorting her.
2025 QUEENS … Each of the queens worked hard to earn their title. Front: Aria Manges, Middle: Amiya Myers, Paislee Owens, Back: Autumn Owens.
CONTESTANTS … The pageant had a beautiful group of girls who each did their very best.
MUSICAL NUMBER … The contestants opened up the floor to the audience by kicking off the pageant with a song and dance.
By: Breana Reliford
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
Beauty, boldness, and brilliance are three words to describe the contestants at this year’s Queens of Edon Pageant. Competing were 18 girls ages 6-16, all shining bright and embracing their true self in hopes to become the next Little Miss, Junior Miss, Teen Miss, or Miss Edon.
The pageant took place at Edon High School on July 27, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., with audience members lining up outside by 4:30 eager to support their favorite contestant.
The beach theme led the stage to be transformed into a paradise with palm trees, surfboards, and inner tubes accompanying the balloon arch center stage, making the perfect entry for each contestant to make their appearance.
The pageant opened up with a musical number featuring each age group separately, then together as a whole.
After the opening dance was the welcome provided by Emcee Brooklyn Morris. Then, the audience had the chance to meet each of the contestants and hear a little bit about each one.
During the introduction portion, contestants took the stage one by one in their casual wear, most following along with the beach theme in their outfits.
The previous queens, who reigned from summer 2024-2025, were also welcomed back to the stage during the special presentation portion.
The Little Miss and Junior Miss contestants then changed into their evening wear and proceeded to the onstage questions, where each girl would draw a question at random out of a bucket, and have to give an on-the-spot answer.
The Teen Miss and Miss contestants also changed into their evening wear, but instead of questions, took a moment to explain their community concentration, a project they do to better their community and help others.
After a ten-minute intermission, the hopeful queens took the stage again for the awards presentations for each age group, and for the 2024 queens, escorted by family members, to have their final walk and farewell.
The Little Miss division had three contestants vying for the title: Riley Borst, Aubriella Whitney, and Aria Manges. These contestants ranged from ages 6-7.
The Junior Miss division had eight contestants competing for the crown: Kaylee Bockover, Haddie Werling, Marissa Disbro, Elizabeth Davis, Paislee Owens, Avery Manges, Kensington Carr, and Berklee Hake. In this age division, these contestants were between 7-11 years old.
In the Teen Miss category, there were three ladies shining bright on stage: Harley Owens, Amiya Myers, and Cora Brigle. This year, the ages in this group were between 10-13.
Finally, for the prestigious “Miss Edon” title, it was a close competition between 4 contestants: Lilly Rohlf, Autumn Owens, Kenlee Brigle, and Alivia Whitney. This year, this division ranged from 14-16 years old.
Once the judges had totaled their scores from each of the different portions of the pageant, the results were in to give out awards and recognize each contestant for their participation. Each of the contestants received a prize bag from the directors for all their efforts.
First, the Little Miss contestants were welcomed back to the stage to present the awards. Alongside them was outgoing 2024 queen, Penelope Hamrick, ready to hand over the title to the 2025 Little Miss Edon.
The first award was most photogenic, which the judges decided on based on pictures taken earlier in the day. This award was given to Aria Manges.
The next award was the congeniality award, which was presented to Riley Borst. The award of first runner-up, which comes with the responsibility of taking over the title of Little Miss Edon if the winner is unable to fulfill their duties throughout the year, was given to Aubriella Whitney. Finally, the winner of Little Miss Edon 2025 was awarded to Aria Manges.
Next, the Junior Miss contestants took the stage, with outgoing queen Evelyn Hamrick joining them, ready to crown the next queen. The winner of most photogenic was Kensington Carr.
Kaylee Bockover received Junior Miss Congeniality. The second runner-up for this division was awarded to Kensington Carr, due to there being seven or more girls in this age group.
The first runner-up for the Junior Miss division was Avery Manges, while the winner of Junior Miss Edon 2025 was crowned Paislee Owens.
The Teen Miss contestants took the stage third, with outgoing queen Avery Aldrich taking her final walk before handing out the next set of awards.
The photogenic award was given to Cora Brigle. Harley Owens took home Teen Miss Congeniality. The first runner-up was awarded to Cora Brigle, and the crown for Teen Miss Edon was awarded to Amiya Myers.
For one last division, the Miss Contestants took the stage. Avyonna Hamrick took her emotional last walk serving as Miss Edon and prepared to hand over the crown to the next deserving young lady.
Alivia Whitney earned the photogenic award. Miss Congeniality was given to Kenlee Brigle. The winner of first runner-up was Kenlee Brigle. Finally, the title was taken by Autumn Owens, who was eager to receive the crown to serve as Miss Edon 2025.
After each age group received their rewards, all contestants were brought back on stage for the final awards. The top seller for the fundraiser was awarded to Amiya Myers.
The People’s Choice award, which received a special medal and certificate of achievement, was given to Marissa Disbro.
The directors also gave out their choice award to a contestant they saw grow and come out of their comfort zone. This prize was given to Elizabeth Davis.
One contestant in each division also was awarded the Spirit of Pageantry award, which was decided based on the contestant’s kindness.
In the Little Miss, Riley Borst took it home. Marissa Disbro came back to take the award for the Junior Miss contestants. In the Teen Miss age group, Harley Owens won. In the Miss category, Lilly Rohlf was given the award.
The newly crowned queens will also have the opportunity to move on to compete in the Pride of Williams County pageant in early 2026.
In the meantime, they will prepare by participating in parades, community activities, and taking part in local events before returning next year to award the next deserving queens of Edon.
