Miss Payson 2013

This year Payson is honored to have two bright young ladies in the Miss Payson Royalty, Emily Hayes and Paige Downey. The day of March 16 marked the day of the Miss Payson Pageant, where Paige Downey, Emily Hayes, Noelle Peck, Rachel Rowley, and Kylee Swenson competed for the open positions in the Payson Royalty. Emily Hayes, a 2012 Payson High graduate, was crowned Miss Payson and Paige Downey, a junior here at Payson High, was crowned her first attendant on Saturday evening.  Although the title itself is a huge honor, this is not the only thing the girls earned in the pageant. The pageant itself was a scholarship pageant, thus Emily, as queen, was awarded $2,400 in scholarship money, and Paige as her first attendant was awarded $1,200. All five girls who participated in the pageant earned a $500 scholarship to Acadia Aesthetics.

The pageant was held in the Payson High School Auditorium.  Although the pageant was anything but easy, Emily and Paige competed along with three other young women, winning the honorable positions.

                These girls put forth a great deal of hard work to participate in the pageant. Each contestant was required to earn $100 for the pageant, and an additional $100 for Primary Children’s Hospital. The girls have been planning and preparing for the pageant for months ahead of time. From learning to dance in high heels to learning how to walk the right way, these girls were kept busy.

                “You might think it sounds weird, but learning the different walks took the most work,” said Paige Downey.  It may sound weird, but when you think about it, the swim suit and gown segments of the pageant would require different walks.

                Pageants are no new thing to Paige, as she’s participated in pageants before Miss Payson. Not only was Paige chosen to represent Payson as first attendant, she was also named the most photogenic. Although Paige is not a beginner when it comes to the limelight, the pageant made her a little nervous.

                “It’s easier to be onstage performing because in a way, you can hide behind your character. It’s different in a pageant, because it’s just you up there,” said Paige.

                The pageant was open to any young woman ages 17 thru 23.

                “I think more girls should do it next year. Most people think pageants are all about the glitz and glamour, but I really got to know all the girls,” said Paige, “I got to be very close with each of the girls competing.”