Macey Colvin will represent Minden as 2016’s Miss Minden.
Colvin, 20, was chosen out of five contestants Saturday, and she says the moment she was crowned was surreal.
“It was a long, longtime dream come true,” she said. “It’s going to take me a while to breathe; it was a surreal moment, but it’s something that I wanted to do and I’ve been planning to do, and this title means a lot to me and my family. It’s the title that I want to take back to Miss Louisiana.”
Colvin competed in 2014, coming in as first runner-up. She competed in the Miss Louisiana competition as Miss Bossier City that year as one of four from Minden.
Her platform, “Break the Silence. Talk About It. You Matter. Teen Suicide Prevention,” is one that hits close to home for her, she says, as she lost a friend about 10 months ago to suicide.
“I changed my platform for Miss Minden due to a lot of events with suicide and close calls in my lifetime and the past few years,” she said. “It’s been weighing heavy on my heart to find a way to promote it, and the Miss America organization allows me to do that along with the four points of the crown. The last one (suicide) was about 10 months ago. I lost a very dear, close friend of mine, but I’ve actually had three suicides and one attempt happen in my life.”
Colvin is the daughter of Brandy and Debbie Colvin and attends Bossier Parish Community
College seeking a degree in mass communication.
Colvin also brought home the swimsuit award as well.
Other winners include first runner-up Sharity Brent, second runner-up Abby Baker, Baker, Miss Congeniality, Sharity Brent, Hannah McFarland Evening Gown award, and Brent, talent award.
Under the theme of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” the pageant included the swimsuit competition, the talent competition, evening wear, on-stage question and interview.
Colvin clogged to “Great Balls of Fire” by Jerry Lee Lewis during the talent portion of the competition.
Contestants for the 2016 Miss Minden pageant are from left, Magan Billups, Abby Baker, second runner-up and Miss Congeniality, newly crowned 2016 Miss Minden Macey Colvin, first runner-up Sharity Brent and contestant Kat Murphy. Brent also won the Hannah McFarland Evening Gown award as well as the talent portion of the pageant. Colvin took home the award for swimsuit competition. Michelle Bates/Press-Herald
First runner-up Sharity Brent, 19, is the daughter of James and Leslie Brent. She is a sophomore at Louisiana Tech University, majoring in nutrition and dietetics. She is a 2014 graduate of Minden High School.
Second runner-up Abby Baker, 20, is the daughter of Bruce and Jody Baker. She is also a sophomore at Louisiana Tech University, majoring in early childhood education.
Other contestants included Magan Billups, 17, the daughter of Kristal Bolyer and Dennis Billups, and Kat Murphy, 18, the daughter of David and Lisa Murphy.
2016 Teen Miss Minden went to Ally Doyle. Pre-Teen Miss Minden was Landry Malone, with first runner-up Bailey Paul, second runner-up Cammy Edwards, and third runner-up and Miss Photogenic Alexis Guin. Minden’s choice was Olivia Blackwelder.
Ella Williams was crowned Little Miss Minden Saturday. First runner-up was Alleigh Basinger, second runner-up was Addison Fields, Miss Photogenic went to Mikayla Blagg, and also participating was Gracie Purvis.
Petite Miss Minden 2016 went to Landry Edwards with first runner-up Haylen Kramer, second runner up and Miss Photogenic Aynslea Mays. Third runner-up was Ava Martin. In the toddler division, the winner was Alexis O’Glee, with first runner up and Minden’s choice Kynslie Weems, Miss Photogenic Caroline Bolton and participant Kamille Smith.
In the baby division, the winner was Nella Snider, followed by first runner-up Laramie Daniels, second runner-up Graylenn Gros and third runner up and Miss Photogenic Kinsleigh Haughton.