Rachael Delaney is Kinston's Junior Miss 2011

Sweeping wins in all judging categories, Rachael Delaney became Kinston’s Junior Miss 2011 Saturday night at the Grainger-Hill Performing Arts Center.

In all, 14 young women competed in the program themed “Flashback to the 80s.”

A student at Arendell Parrott Academy, Delaney is the daughter of Dr. Dale and Susan Delaney. She won in interview, fitness, self-expression, talent and scholarship preliminaries, and tied with two others for the Be Your Best Self award. She will compete in the state program next February in Greensboro.

“I’m tired,” Delaney said after the winners were announced. “I’m very excited, and a little shocked. I thought I messed up in my talent routine, and I was worried.”

First runner-up Janna McLawhorn won in interview, self-expression, talent, scholarship and was a Be Your Best Self winner. She is the daughter of Kenneth and Tonya McLawhorn and a student at Parrott.

Second runner-up Summer McLawhorn, a North Lenoir High School student, won in interview, fitness, self-expression and talent. She is the daughter of Mike and Stacie McLawhorn.

Third runner-up was Anna Keith, who also won in fitness and talent. A Kinston High School student, she is the daughter of Earl and Mary Margaret Keith.

Breonna King won the Spirit Award, selected by all the contestants. King is a Kinston High student and the daughter of Thornton and Lorraine King.

Other preliminary winners were Mackenzie Brown in interview, fitness and scholarship categories, and Be Your Best Self award; Kathleen Marshall, self-expression; and Brianna Rhodes, scholarship.

Other contestants were Chanelle Thomas, Jessica Walker, Kaitlyn Edwards, Na’Aisha Garner,

Alaina Seachris and Elizabeth Whitley.

Judging –  the same on all Junior Miss levels – is based on scholastics, 20 percent; interview, 25 percent; talent, 25 percent; fitness, 15 percent; and self-expression, 15 percent.

Claire Hill, Kinston’s Jr.Miss 2007, was emcee for the event that welcomed the contestants’ Little Sisters and Little Buddies, plus junior misses from area programs, to the stage.

Specialty acts added to the entertainment, including 2010 Kinston Jr. Miss Mary Bec Keith and the Kinston 2010 Has-Beens.

The Kinston Junior Miss program chairman is Garde Parson. Erin Barker Whaley is producer and choreographer. For more information about the scholarship program, contact Parson at gardeparson55@yahoo.com.

 Nancy S. Saunders can be reached at 252-559-1079 or nsaunders@freedomenc.com.

Winnings

Kinston Jr. Miss 2011 —$2,500 scholarship, $200 wardrobe allowance, medallion, plaque, flowers, portrait from Photographic Expressions by Isaac

First Runner-up — $800 scholarship, plaque

Second Runner-up — $500 scholarship, plaque

Third Runner-up — $300 scholarship, plaque

Spirit Award — $200 scholarship, plaque

Be Your Best Self — $100, plaque

Preliminary winners — $75 and plaque per category