By Scott Mims

Jana Davenport of Jemison competed for the title of Alabama’s Junior Miss 2010 on Saturday.
Davenport, a Jemison High School senior and the daughter of Shawn and Vanda Davenport, competed among 52 girls from around the state in categories of poise, talent, physical fitness, scholastics and interview.
For her talent, she sang “Shall We Dance” from “The King and I,” which helped earn her the top spot in Chilton County’s Junior Miss in September.
Ten days of rigorous practices culminated Saturday at Fraser Memorial United Methodist Church. During that time, Davenport stayed with a host family, Michael and Lisa Jones, and a roommate, fellow contestant Courtney Campbell of Morgan County.
“It was a great experience. I really enjoyed it. It was a lot of work, but it was something that I loved and would do again if I had the opportunity,” Davenport said Monday.
Friends and relatives including parents and grandparents attended the competition. While in Montgomery, she received more than 75 letters.
“A lot of people from Chilton County were very supportive. I would like to say thank you to everyone here who helped me and supported me,” she said, also thanking Trudy Harrison and Lindsay Harrison for inspiring her to compete in Junior Miss.
For Davenport, the road to Junior Miss started at a young age. She developed a love for musical theater in fifth grade, singing in the Chilton Civic Chorale’s presentation of “The Sound of Music.”
Then, in sixth grade, a mother of a Junior Miss winner (Harrison) encouraged her to work toward the program.
“Setting that goal helped Jana keep her GPA up and stay involved in community leadership activities. It was an excellent program to motivate her through the years,” Davenport’s mother said.
Davenport studied voice with Trudy DeLoach and Dana Lawrence. She also had to learn an eight-minute physical fitness routine, which she prepared for at Cornerstone Fitness & Wellness.
“She’s also a cheerleader, so she stays pretty active,” her mother said.
Gwen Davis, Chilton County Junior Miss program chairman, said singers have typically done well at the state level.
“She’s just a well-rounded individual,” Davis said.
Kristen Mosley of Walker County was named Alabama’s Junior Miss 2010.