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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Grace Bingham entered Jemison High School on March 8 with no prior pageant experience and a lot of unknowns ahead of her. When she walked out hours later, she had the crown of the 2025 Miss Strawberry Queen on her head.

Bingham’s parents, Chanel and Mack Bingham, wanted her to wait to do pageants until they believed she was ready. Learning that beauty is on the inside, as well as developing her integrity and character, was important to do before she started pageants. But this year’s Miss Strawberry Pageant felt like the right time.

“I have always wanted to do pageants, but my mom and dad wanted to instill in me that beauty on the outside is not everything and true beauty is on the inside, and you really need to understand that,” Bingham said.

Bingham researched about the Chilton County Strawberry Festival and the more she learned about it the more she wanted that one to be her first pageant experience. Like their fruit queen counterparts, the Strawberry Queens really immerse themselves into the strawberry culture of the county, connect with the farmers and get a true experience out of it.

“Some of my friend’s families are farmers, but I really never understood why it is so important,” Bingham said. “Then I did this pageant and I realized. I cannot wait to talk to (the farmers) and really understand the whole process behind it.”

Bingham’s friend Alanna Cleckler, the 2023 Junior Miss Strawberry Queen, encouraged her a lot to do the pageant. When the final decision was made to do it, Cleckler was there to help Bingham prepare for every aspect of the pageant. The two practiced at their dance studio and set up chairs to simulate walking on stage for hours. Bingham’s mom helped her with her on stage question, which was ‘Why is agriculture important in Chilton County?’ Bingham practiced the question over and over, practiced walking in her dress with Cleckler and kept building up until the day of the pageant.

“The day of the pageant I was so scared and so nervous, and I got there and said ‘I do not know if I can do this,’ and I was really doubting myself,” Bingham said. “I went to the interview, and they were not from here, so they asked me ‘Why are farmers and agriculture important to our county?’ I was so scared, and I swallowed a lump in my throat and came up with something quick.”

The time came for Bingham’s on-stage question and she walked out on stage. She found her mom in the crowd and looked over at her during it for support while she recorded the big moment. When she walked off stage, she experienced the biggest sense of relief she has ever felt and was finally able to relax.

“Maybe I won, maybe I didn’t, but I was just so excited that I just did well and I was proud of myself,” Bingham said. “I was not worried about if I won, but just proud that I did it for the experience and everything (that comes with it.)”

All of the contestants came back on stage to hear the results from the judges. It was quiet in Bingham’s mind when the names were being read on stage, and it got down to where it became all or nothing for her. Either she was the new queen, or she did not place.

“When they said ‘Your new 2025 Miss Strawberry Queen is Grace Bingham,’ I was like ‘No way,’” Bingham said. “I was so excited and so grateful.”

Bingham is an only daughter in her family with three brothers, so getting the opportunity to do her reign with three other queens gives her an experience she has not had before. The new queen sisters will be helping and appearing at dozens of local events throughout the upcoming year. One of the events Bingham is most excited about is The Night to Shine Prom where the Strawberry Queens attend and spend time with the special needs students at their very own prom.

Another important aspect that was explained to her and picked up quickly by Bingham was the amount of young female eyes that will be looking up to her.

“Girls think we are real princesses … Having God shine through me and being a good example to the girls, being kind and showing them right from wrong (is important),” Bingham said.

Bingham will be graduating from Chilton County High School in May, but she will remain local starting her college journey at Jefferson State Community College, getting to fulfill all of her queen duties while starting her degree.