Parkersburg Homecoming queens shine at annual pageant
Eight girls were vying for Miss Parkersburg Homecoming Festival Teen Queen and 18 young women were vying for Miss Parkersburg Homecoming Queen.
Winning the title of 2017 Miss Parkersburg Homecoming Festival Queen was Summersville resident Shelbey Groves, 19.
Groves said she decided to compete in Parkersburg after meeting with Sandy Fisher, pageant director.
“She was the deciding factor on whether or not I did this pageant,” said Groves who will be a sophomore at West Virginia University this fall. “After my last pageant I did I was pretty exhausted and I wanted to take a break for a little while, but Sandy was very welcoming and genuine.”
After her year representing Parkersburg Homecoming, she plans to finish her bachelor’s of science degree at WVU in animal nutrition science.
“Veterinary school is my ultimate goal,” she said. “I have two schools in mind. West Virginia University has partnerships with Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine or University of Mississippi and they offer in-state tuition at those two schools for West Virginia residents.”
Winning the 2017 Miss Parkersburg Homecoming Festival Teen Queen was Elizabeth Kingery, 15, of Charleston.
Kingery said she has had an eye on competing in the pageant since 2014.
“I’ve want to do this pageant since I saw a friend compete in it,” said Kingery who will be a sophomore at Sissonville High School in the fall. “Ever since she won I just had the goal set in my mind that I want to compete in Parkersburg.”
Kingery said after she plans to enjoy her year as the Teen Queen as much as she can.
“I want to enjoy the year and be a role model for younger girls and form a bond with my sister queen,” she said.
Fisher said two contestants for the Miss Parkersburg Homecoming Queen were not present Saturday. One did not arrive and the other sent a text saying she was ill and withdrew.
Fisher said she will begin a search for contestants after the 2018 fairs and festival pageant in January. Back to 1985, the Parkersburg Homecoming pageant has had winners go on to win Miss West Virginia America, Miss West Virginia Association of Fairs and Festivals, Miss West Virginia — U.S.A., Mrs. West Virginia and Miss West Virginia United States.
The queen will receive $1,200, an all-expense paid trip to compete in the Miss W.Va. Association of Fairs and Festivals Pageant in January 2018, her crown, sash and flowers and a gift package donated by West Virginia businesses.
The teen queen will receive a $500 cash award and a gift package.
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Miss Parkersburg Homecoming Queen
* Queen: Shelbey Groves, 19, Summersville
* First runner-up: Ciera Wine, 18, Summersville
* Second runner-up: Rebecca Lynn Rhodes, 20, Mineral Wells
* Third runner-up: Carrie Yarber, 17, Summersville
* Fourth runner-up: Madison Campbell, 19, Craigsville
* Miss Photogenic: Groves
* Miss Congeniality: Ramsie Monk, 19, Ripley
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Miss Parkersburg Homecoming Teen Queen
* Teen Queen: Elizabeth Kingery, 15, Charleston
* First runner-up: Grayson Ranae Enoch, 14, Mineral Wells
* Second runner-up: Alexandria “Allie” Spiker, 13, Morgantown.
* Third runner-up: Sofia Strobl, 13, Vienna
* Fourth runner-up: Sundance Lewis, 13, Washington, W.Va.
* Miss Photogenic: Alexandria “Allie” Spiker, 13, Morgantown
* Miss Congeniality: Lewis