Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

Marybeth Porter of Thorsby was crowned the 2019 Miss Peach Queen on June 27.

“I have never won in the Peach Pageant,” Porter said.

She had not participated in the pageant since she was in the young division.

“This was definitely an answered prayer,” Porter said. “I remember praying, ‘God, if you want me to lead in my community in this way please open this door for me.’”

She also prayed that whoever won would be a “genuine role model in our community for the next generation of girls.”

Porter said the interview portion of the competition went well for her.

“I talked a lot about my passions,” Porter said.

She highlighted a mission trip she had gone on two years ago and ways she leads in her school and community.

“I am so ready for what this year has to come,” Porter said.

She said she is looking forward to “being a role model in my community.”

Marybeth Porter won a $2,000 scholarship for the title, $1,200 scholarship from St. Vincent’s Chilton and a $1,000 Lions Club Peach Festival Scholarship.

Her on-stage question asked her to name a new variety of peaches.

She chose Queen.

“Because a peach is everything a queen should be,” Porter said. “A queen should be sweet but should also be a healthy influence onto her community. She should bring joy everywhere she goes and truly be a sweet role model all throughout her community.”

In her farewell speech, 2018 Miss Peach Queen Zoey Collum told the next peach queen “you are good enough, and you can do this. Carry yourself with confidence and grace this next year, and if you struggle to find this, make prayer your best friend. Remember you were chosen by God to have this experience.”

Collum also encouraged the next Miss Peach to spread love wherever she went.

Grace Ann Porter won first alternate and received $1,000 for the title. She also received a $500 Lions Club Community Scholarship based on her essay and a $425 Lions Club Peach Festival Scholarship.

Aubrie Hall was second alternate and the casual wear winner.

Saniya Underwood was named Miss Congeniality and received a $350 scholarship for the title.

Sara Kate Emmerich won $2,000 in scholarships, including $1,500 from Shelby Baptist Medical Center for her essay about colon cancer and $500 for having the highest GPA of all the contestants.

Grace Nolen won $1,500 in scholarships, including $500 from River Bank & Trust and $1,000 from RealtySouth Chilton.

Maddie Barrington won $925 in scholarships, including $500 for the Lions Club Community Scholarship based on her essay and a $425 Lions Club Peach Festival Scholarship.