By By Chandler Myers
special to the standard
Being chosen Escambia County’s Junior Miss is a “dream come true” for T.R. Miller High School student Mallory Mullis.
Mullis earned the title Saturday night after a competition involving 10 other soon-to-be seniors in Escambia County.
Mullis said she hopes to be the kind of Junior Miss that her peers and younger children are able to look up to.
Fellow T.R. Miller classmate Ashleigh Ward was chosen as first alternate in the scholarship program. Ward also won the scholastic scholarship award, and will serve in the place of Mullis should she not be able to go to the state competition. Second alternate was awarded to Allie Rush of Cornerstone Christian Academy who also won awards for her “Be Your Best Self Essay” as well as the interview scholarship award.
Mullis will represent Escambia County for a chance to be named Alabama’s Junior Miss.
The scholarship program began with a welcome by the emcee for the evening, Drexel Gilbert a former television anchor for WKRG, WEAR and WPMI.
After Gilbert’s introduction, Monica Booker performed the National Anthem and then the event began with the opening number performed by the contestants and their “Little Sisters.”
The program also included a fitness competition, talent performances and a self-expression competition.
During the judges’ deliberation, the 2009 Escambia County Junior Miss Alaina Arnold performed several dance numbers.
After the judges came back, all of the contestants were called out onto the stage, and Arnold took her final walk.
Arnold said Monday that passing on the title is “bittersweet.”
Mullis said she was not sure what to say after her name was called.
Mullis, along with winning Junior Miss, was awarded with scholarship awards for having the “Spirit of Junior Miss,” self-expression and the fitness routine.
Mullis has a vote of confidence not only from the 2009 Junior Miss, but also from the 2005 Escambia County Junior Miss Jessie McKinley.
McKinley said Mullis is someone who should represent the county well.
Mullis is now going to begin preparing her talent and for her interview that she will go through at the state competition early next year.