Pageant prelims (updated with winners)

Miss University of Central Arkansas Ashton Purtle won the Preliminary Artistic Expression in Talent Award and Miss Arkansas State University Bailey Moses won the Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit Preliminary Award on Wednesday, the opening night of the 79th Annual Miss Arkansas Pageant at Bank of the Ozarks Arena. From left are Miss Arkansas 2015 Loren McDaniel, Moses, Purtle and Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen 2016 Emily Brewer. Photography is courtesy of the Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant and You've Got The Look Photography.
Miss University of Central Arkansas Ashton Purtle won the Preliminary Artistic Expression in Talent Award and Miss Arkansas State University Bailey Moses won the Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit Preliminary Award on Wednesday, the opening night of the 79th Annual Miss Arkansas Pageant at Bank of the Ozarks Arena. From left are Miss Arkansas 2015 Loren McDaniel, Moses, Purtle and Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen 2016 Emily Brewer. Photography is courtesy of the Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant and You've Got The Look Photography.

With 5-inch heels clacking on the Bank of the Ozarks Arena stage, 42 contestants stormed into the spotlight Wednesday for the opening night of the Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant, each hoping to win the final state crown up for grabs in the Miss America organization.

As groups separated out from the opening number to Demi Lovato's "Confident," an onstage question instantly gave the competitors the chance to show their ability to answer political and nonpolitical questions with questions that were submitted by Miss Arkansas app users.

Questions ranged from Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump's proposal to build a wall on the United States-Mexico border to the government's position regarding fast food targeting children.

Miss Ouachita Baptist University Suzie Gresham grabbed a huge crowd response with her response regarding the government's decision on assault rifles.

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You've Got The Look Photography

Alpha Award winners announced at the conclusion of Wednesday night's Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant preliminaries were Miss UCA Ashton Purtle, Artistic Expression in Talent, and Miss Metro Kyla Soden, Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit. Alpha Talent and Swimsuit winners will each receive a $250 scholarship from the Miss Arkansas Executive Director’s Association. This is the ninth year Alpha Awards are being presented for each phase of competition. Alpha Awards are presented to first-time Miss Arkansas contestants who garnered the most points in their respective groups each night. From left are Miss Arkansas 2015 Loren McDaniel, Purtle, Soden, and Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen 2016 Emily Brewer. Photography is courtesy of the Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant and You've Got The Look Photography.

"In these types of tragedies (such as the recent Orlando mass shooting), to get rid of assault rifles, it is not something I think the government should do. I do think that the government should make them for military use only," Gresham said. "If the government messes with our Second Amendment rights, then what else will they take from us? If they take away our rifles and shotguns, then how will we protect our concealed carry holders?"

With $121,800 in scholarships at this year's pageant, Miss Arkansas set a record, placing it as the largest scholarship awarding state preliminary pageant in the Miss America organization. Preliminary winners were announced at the end of the evening, but were announced after presstime.

Finalists were announced Sunday at the arrival ceremony for various awards that were determined through fundraising for Children's Miracle Network, community service and healthy living. This year, one-quarter of the competitors were Alphas, first-time competitors on the Miss Arkansas stage.

Miss University of Arkansas Fort Smith Katie Brown took home the Alpha arrival award. Winners of the Children's Miracle Network Miracle Maker were Miss Arkansas State University Bailey Moses, first runner-up Miss University of Central Arkansas Ashton Purtle, second runner-up Miss Sweetheart of Arkansas Jennifer Nottenkamper, third runner-up Miss Ouachita River Samantha Hudon and fourth runner-up Miss Northwest Arkansas Jacey Winn. Miss Heart of the Ozarks Savvy Shields, former Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen, won Alpha Interview.

Hudon and Miss Spirit of Arkansas Kenzie Williams were finalists to the "Confidently You" scholarship, a new award by Miss Arkansas Loren McDaniel in honor of her platform "Confidently You."

In honor of this week falling on the Fourth of July, several contestants sported red, white and blue costumes and Miss Western Arkansas Logan Moore performed a flute medley of patriotic songs. A change up to the usual dance and singing talent routines, Miss Grand Prairie Haley Bird performed the tenor drums to Pharrell's "Happy."

Tonight and Friday, contestants will continue to compete in preliminary competitions to get a spot in the top 15 and top 10 finalists for the Miss Arkansas crown.

Local on 07/07/2016

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