July 19, 2018 (Photos - Album1, Album2) - The 2018 East Texas What-A-Melon Festival pageant was held July 14, 2018 and raised money to establish a scholarship fund in memory of Tonya Bailey who has organized the pageant since its beginning.
This year the pageant was organized by a pageant committee comprises Ashlyn Wiggins, Kendall Brown, Kerri Wiggins, Emily Shoop Teske, April Pledger, and Caroline Corbell.
Emceeing the pageant was Jesse Wiggins and Ashlyn Wiggins
Mister What-A-Melon - Hanson Hughes
Best Smile - Paxton Mueller
Most Hansome - Gabriel Cruse
Best Fashion - Keton Migues
Baby Miss What-A-Melon - Saylor Cummins
Best Smile - Camyla Espino
Most Beautiful - Korbyn Sigler
Best Fashion - Dallas Collier
Toddler Miss What-A-Melon - Rory Wilson
Best Smile - Leah Livingston
Most Beautiful - Elli Hathorn
Best Fashion - Adalyn Caldwell
Tiny Miss What-A-Melon - Emery Gomez
Best Smile - Kymberlyn Snodgrass
Most Beautiful - Emery Gomez
Best Fashion - Alxees Jones
Little Miss What-A-Melon - Ivy Durbin
Best Smile - Ivy Durbin
Most Beautiful - Justice Boyd
Best Fashion - Justice Boyd
Petite Miss What-A-Melon - Maylea Rodgers
Best Smile - Kinzley Chandler
Most Beautiful - Katelynn Willess
Best Fashion - Madison Bailey
Pre-Teen Miss What-A-Melon - Carolyn Mathis
Best Smile - Lakynn Bowers
Most Beautiful - Carolyn Mathis
Best Fashion - Lakynn Bowers
Teen Miss What-A-Melon - Mahalia Ratcliff
Best Smile - Mahalia Ratcliff
Most Beautiful - Mahalia Ratcliff
Best Fashion - Mahalia Ratcliff
Miss What-A-Melon - Olivia Johnson
Best Smile - Zoie Madeline
Most Beautiful - Olivia Johnson
Best Fashion - Zoie Ebernz
Pageant monetary donors were Steel Building, Shoop Finance, Shoop Insurance, McAdams Propane, Wiggins Farms, Luke Brown Watermelons.
Items including prizes and stage decorations were donated by Elite Hair Design, Cor Boutique, Denim and Lace Boutique, Lasting Impressions, Dazzle Me Pink and Blue, The Coral Cactus, Sassy Red's, Granny B's snow cones, Payne and Payne Home and Such Like, Wiggins Farms, Crown Bound Bronzing by Chloe Brown, Center Floral, Southern Seasons, Hughes Florist, and Tucker Florist.
Platinum sponsors for the festival are Farmers State Bank, Toledo-Bend.com, and Shelby Savings Bank.
The What-A-Melon Festival is hosted by the Center Rotary Club. Additional sponsors who make the festival possible are (Gold Sponsors) City of Center; Focused Care of Center; (Silver Sponsors) Center Glass; R&D Distributors; Citizens Bank; Deep East Texas Electric Cooperative; ACE Hardware; Kyle Coffin, DDS; Coral Cactus; Texas Credit; (Bronze Sponsors) Toledo Automotive / NAPA; Sandy Wheeler State Farm; and Tammy Steptoe Realty. Be sure to thank all the festival sponsors.
