Local girls compete for top honors at weekend pageant

It's time once again for the pageantry and fun of the 2005 Young Miss and Junior Miss Auburn pageant, held at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at the DeWitt Theater at 1st St. and D Ave. in Auburn. This year, 12-year-old Heather Magda, last year's titleholder, will hand over the crown to the 11 hopefuls. Vying for Heather's title this year are: Young Miss ContestantsLynnaya HosieLynnaya is 7 years old and the daughter of Eric and Shawnna Hosie. She is a second-grade homeschool student who is in Girl Scouts, 4H and collects stuffed animals. She is sponsored by Linda & Robert Olgeirson, Nick Olgeirson, Danny Olgeirson, John & Lula Tynes, Kristy Killian, Kim Killian, JayDeen Isomher and her parents.Megan CrosthwaiteMegan is the 9-year-old daughter of Bob and Wendy Crosthwaite. She is in the fourth grade at Vencil Brown Elementary. She likes scrapbooking, softball and gymnastics. She is sponsored by AJ Macpherson Tax Services.Tessa MagdaTessa is 7 years old and the daughter of Julius and Colleen Magda. She is a second-grade homeschool student. Tessa enjoys playing the violin and piano, dancing and boating with her family. Tessa is sponsored by Airmaps USA.Courtney HanawayCourtney is 8 years old and the daughter of Amy and Todd Hanaway. She is in third grade grade at Placer Hills School. Courtney enjoys dancing, swimming and camping. She is sponsored by Hanaway Tractor Service and Poppy Lance Christmas Farm.Junior Miss ContestantsMegan ParkerMegan is 12 years old and the daughter of Hailey and Ric Parker. She is a seventh-grade student at Colfax Elementary. Megan enjoys quadding, playing with her dogs and playing the piano. She is sponsored by Pick A Flick Video Store.Dakota QuintonDakota is the 10-year-old daughter of Art and Yvette Quinton. She is a fourth-grader at Twin Oaks Elementary. Dakota's hobbies include drawing, crafts and dancing. She is being sponsored by Design Concepts Interior Design, her family and friends.Danielle SchnittgerDanielle is 12 years old and the daughter of Eva and Richard Schnittger. Her hobbies are soccer, basketball, volleyball, scrapbooking and taking pictures. Danielle is being sponsored by Budget Printing, Army Recruiting Center, Auburn Trophy, Images, Eyewear Design and Pizazz Salon.Carressa WorthingtonCarressa is the 12 year old daughter of Nell and William Worthington. She is an eighth-grade homeschool student. Carressa enjoys playing the drums, piano, drama and dancing. Her sponsors are El Portal Taqueria and Loft 11.Kindra CrosthwaiteKindra is 10 years old and the daughter of Ron and JoAnn Crosthwaite. She is in the fifth grade at Carlin C. Coppin School. Her hobbies include soccer, basketball, and drawing fashion dresses. Kindra is sponsored by AJ Macpherson's Tax Services.Lexus HosieLexus is the 11-year-old daughter of Eric and Shawnna Hosie. She is a sixth-grade homeschool student. Lexus likes music, reading, basketball and bike riding. She is being sponsored by Linda & Robert Olgeirson, Nick Olgeirson, Danny Olgeirson, John & Lula Tynes, Kristy Killian, Kim Killian, JayDeen Isom and her parents.Sofia FigueroaSofia is 11 years old and the daughter of Tonya and Kevin Figueroa. She is a sixth-grade student at E.V. Cain. Her hobbies include acting, dancing and art. Sofia's sponsors are Pamelot School of Dance, Intermast, Figs Garden Center and Figueroa Landscape.The pageants are scheduled to begin at 4:30 pm. The event is open to the public, and tickets can be purchased at the door. "We encourage people to come support these young ladies as they challenge themselves and discover their hidden talents," said Toni Fossum, one of the pageant directors. "Some people believe that a pageant is just about strutting your stuff on stage - but it so much more than that. These young ladies are required to write essays, submit copies of their report cards, introduce themselves on the microphone in front of hundreds of people as well as display poise on stage and the ability to hold a mature conversation during panel interviews. I know a lot of adults who would not challenge themselves to all of that." For more information about these and other pageants in the area, check out the West Coast Sunshine Pageant System Web site at www.westcoastpageants.com. The Young and Junior Miss pageants are sponsored in part by Chevy's, Fossum's International Kickboxing and Karate, Foster Graphics and the Auburn Host Lions Club.