By STEVEN CALHOUN/Staff Writer

Maplesville High School held its annual Miss Vista Pageant Tuesday night in the school auditorium.

“We have had this pageant as long as I can remember,” said DeNe Carter, head of the pageant. “It has gone on from when I was in school here, and I graduated 25 years ago.”

Carter said it has always been the fall pageant, although some years it went by different names, such as Little Miss Christmas Carol. According to Carter, the pageant has been a fundraiser for the yearbook since at least when she was put in charge of it 15 years ago.

“That’s why now we call it Miss Vista, because we call the yearbook Vista,” said Carter.

There were 13 contestants total participating in the pageant. Six were competing for the title of Junior Miss Vista and seven were competing for the title of Miss Vista.

Each girl made their walk for the judges, and then there was a short intermission while the judges made their decision.

When the Junior Miss Vista contestants returned to the stage, the judges announced the results. Lexy Calloway won Second Alternate, Haven Smith won First Alternate and Allison Giles was crowned 2016 Junior Miss Vista.

Next up were the Miss Vista contestants. Bailee Connell won Second Alternate, Megan Weaver won First Alternate and Aniston Bolding was crowned 2016 Miss Vista.

After the pageant, Bolding shared a little about herself and why she participated in the pageant.

“I moved here just this year, so I figured it would be good to try something new and get out there for myself,” said Bolding.

Bolding also shows cows, and said showing cows helped prepare her to do pageantry. She supports the FFA and was recently on the land judging team. According to Bolding, she has been to national contests twice with the FFA for poultry and meats judging.

Bolding said she plans to attend a junior college and major in agriculture.

“While I’m in junior college, I would like to judge livestock and then go to a four-year college out West, such as Texas Tech or Oklahoma State, until I finish my degree,” said Bolding.