July 12, 2016 (Album 1, Album 2) - A large crowd attended the 2016 East Texas What-A-Melon Festival pageant Saturday morning, July 9, 2016. Contestants dolled up in their cutest watermelon attire and took to the stage as family gathered under the big tent.
Judges of the pageant were Amy Permenter, Angel Washington, and special guest Carla Lynn Penney, of Vienna, Georgia. Penney was crowned the 2016 National Watermelon Queen during the annual National Watermelon convention in New Orleans, Louisiana in February. Her trip to the festival was sponsored by Wiggins Farms
The Supreme Queens of the pageant were announced to be Emory Gomez for ages 0-5 years and Karley Broadway for ages 6 and up. Both received a $250 scholarship sponsored by Wiggins Farms which was presented to them by Penney.
The pageant results are as follows:
Mister East Texas What-A-Melon - Stetson Spinks
Best Smile, Most Handsome, Best Fashion - Stetson Spinks
Baby (Ages 0-11 months)
Baby Miss East Texas What-A-Melon - Blakely Raymond
Best Smile - Gracie Sanford
Most Beautiful - Blakely Raymond
Best Fashion - Emory Gomez
Princesses - Savannah Barton, Taegan Dawson, Gracie Sanford, Kellyanna Binfet, McCartney Agnew
Toddler (Ages 12-23 months)
Toddler Miss East Texas What-A-Melon - Oakley Lowe and Emory Thornton
Best Smile - Oakley Lowe
Most Beautiful - Emory Thornton
Best Fashion - Sadie Jernigan
Princesses - Swazie Steptoe, Ellie Parks, Addelynn Davis, Sadie Jernigan, Ella Impson
Tiny (Ages 2-3 years)
Tiny Miss East Texas What-A-Melon - Justice Boyd
Best Smile - Justice Boyd
Most Beautiful - Jayla Barkins
Best Fashion - Madelyn Olivas
Princesses - Kirstie Parks, Madelyn Olivas, Jayla Barkins, Melina Barrera, Cadence Shadix
Little (Ages 4-5 years)
Little Miss East Texas What-A-Melon - Sofia Bocanegra
Best Smile - Sofia Bocanegra
Most Beautiful - Aryana Groze
Best Fashion - Laura Moody
Princesses - Laura Moody, Aryana Groze
Petite (Ages 6-8 years)
Petite Miss East Texas What-A-Melon - Rhiana Lane
Best Smile - Carolyn Mathis
Most Beautiful - Rhiana Lane
Best Fashion - Bailey Shadix
Princesses - Bailey Shadix, Carolyn Mathis
Preteen (Ages 9-12 years)
Preteen Miss East Texas What-A-Melon - Mahalia Ratcliff
Best Smile - Mahalia Ratcliff
Most Beautiful - Mahalia Ratcliff
Best Fashion - Macey McSwain
Princess - Macey McSwain
Teen (Ages 13-15 years)
Teen Miss East Texas What-A-Melon - Rebekah Bridges
Best Smile, Most Beautiful, Best Fashion - Rebekah Bridges
Miss (Ages 16-19 years)
Miss East Texas What-A-Melon - Karley Broadway
Best Smile, Most Beautiful, Best Fashion - Karley Broadway
All attending the pageant were made more comfortable in the hot summer heat by Portacools' Portable Evaporative Coolers donated for use at the festival by Portacool. The pageant was hosted by Bailey's Pageants.
