Williams crowned Little Miss COTR 2019
The Christmas on the River pageants concluded on Wednesday, Oct. 9, when 41 sweet little girls competed in the Little Miss Christmas on the River 2019 pageant at the Demopolis Civic Center. After a long parade of contestants, the judges made their first cut to a top 25.
Kendall Marie Gandy, Catherine Ann Davidson, Emma Grace Casper, Callie Ray Thomas, Emmalyn Kate Washburn, Piper Barnes Malone, Carlee Brooke McCants, Violet Elizabeth Smelley, Aubrey Lorraine Dunavent, Emily Radford Parten, Mary Mildred Quida Mabry, Rylea Grace Williams, Harmon Elizabeth Tucker, Ava Kathryn Combs, Breanna Payne Bowden, Catherine Brooke Compton, Sailor Grace McCrory, Mason Marie McCurdy, Anna Claire Kallhoff, Anne Sutton Beard, Amery Danica Keeley, Maggie AnnLeigh Hilchey, Addison Elizabeth Phillips, Claire Elizabeth Vaughan, and Clara-Kate Bennett were the 25 lovely young ladies who continued on to the next round.
These beautiful girls all walked the stage again in a parade of beauty, grace and poise in hopes of being called out for the next cut, the top 12!
Kendall Marie Gandy, Catherine Ann Davidson, Piper Barnes Malone, Violet Elizabeth Smelley, Emily Radford Parten, Rylea Grace Williams, Catherine Brooke Compton, Sailor Grace McCrory, Mason Marie McCurdy, Anna Claire Kallhoff, Claire Elizabeth Vaughan, and Clara-Kate Bennett were the names announced for the top 12.
The top 12 came back to stage proving once more why they should be part of Little Miss COTR 2019 and her court. After a difficult decision, the judges called a top five back to the stage to answer the question, “If you could bring one Disney Character to life, who would it be and why?” The girls had to think quickly on their feet to win the heart of the judges and the audience with their answers. The judges made their final decision and Debbie Butler announced Little Miss COTR 2019 and her court.
Fourth alternate Violet Elizabeth Smelly is a second-grader at Westside Elementary School. She wore a bubblegum pink ruffled ball gown with a rhinestone bodice. A second-grader at WES, Catherine Brooke Compton wore a white, ruffled organza ball gown with crystal detailing.
Kendall Marie Gandy earned second alternate, wearing a baby pink satin evening gown with white beaded detailing on the bodice and long sheer sleeves. Kendall is in second grade a Westside Elementary School. A first-grader at WES, Sailor Grace McCrory was presented with the first alternate place on the court. Sailor wore an elegant white satin gown with rhinestone detailing.
Crowned Little Miss Christmas on the River 2019 was first-grader Rylea Grace Williams. Rylea is the 6-year-old daughter of George and Rosetta Williams of Taylorville. She attends Taylorville Primary School and is involved in dance at 3D Dance in Moundville and loves competing in pageants.
Rylea’s grandmother, Laverne Biggs, said she was very blessed to be here.
“In July, after Rylea turned 6, she started staring off, with her left eye jumping. When she would come back around she wasn’t remembering what she was doing before. She started staring off. We rushed her to Children’s hospital where they said she had epilepsy. In August, we were told she had a tumor on her brain that was causing her to have silent seizures. It was removed on Aug. 9th of this year. She lost her long term memories. She was able to remember faces, but couldn’t put names with them,” said Rosetta Williams.
Rylea is very happy to be crowned Little Miss COTR and is super excited to attend all of the events, especially the COTR Day Parade on December the seventh.
Come out and support all of the queens and their courts during the Christmas on the River events. Lighting of the Love Light Tree and announcement of the COTR Special Child will kick off COTR events on Thursday, Dec.4 at Whitfield Regional Hospital in Demopolis.