Sunday, June 26, 2011
Chesapeake native is crowned Miss Virginia
Contestants from Lynchburg and the Roanoke Valley were runners-up in Saturday's pageant.
Rebecca Barnett | The Roanoke Times
Miss Arlington Elizabeth Crot (left) is the new Miss Virginia. Miss Lynchburg Courtney Garrett (right) was named first runner-up.
Elizabeth Crot of Chesapeake celebrates with fellow contestants after being crowned Miss Virginia 2011 at the Roanoke Civic Center on Saturday night. Crot hopes to use her pageant scholarship money toward a doctorate degree in diversity studies.
Miss Virginia contestants form a prayer circle backstage before the competition.
Chinah Helmandollar, Miss Virginia 2009, holds a sign reading "A Star Is Born," during the Miss Virginia competition.
Correction (June 28, 2011): First runner-up Miss Lynchburg Courtney Garrett was pictured with Miss Virginia 2011 Elizabeth Crot in a photo that ran on June 26. The caption identified Garrett incorrectly and had been updated. | Our corrections policy
The fifth year is the charm for Miss Virginia 2011 Elizabeth Crot, whose "magic" vocal, "Sempre Libera," won her a $16,500 scholarship and a year in the state crown.
Crot, who was Miss Arlington, claimed the talent competition in Friday night's preliminaries and a $1,000 scholarship. Saturday, she also won a $250 "Spirit of Miss Virginia" scholarship.
The Chesapeake native hopes to use her scholarship money toward a doctorate degree in diversity studies.
The first runner-up and winner of an $8,300 scholarship was Miss Lynchburg Courtney Garrett. Second runner-up and winner of a $4,500 scholarship was Miss Roanoke Valley Lindsay Morris.
Third runner-up and winner of a $2,800 scholarship was Miss Greater Hampton Roads Shannon Oliver. Fourth runner-up and winner of a $1,900 scholarship was Miss Greater Richmond Brittany Young.
The pageant, which concluded Saturday night at the Roanoke Civic Center, aired live in high-definition on 10 television stations in five states and Washington, D.C. All three nights of the pageant were streamed live on www.missva.com.
Former Miss Virginia 2009 and Miss America 2010, Caressa Cameron, co-hosted the pageant alongside entertainer and 1998 president of the board of directors for Miss Virginia, Lowell Hill. Cameron is the third Miss Virginia to be crowned Miss America.
Miss Apple Blossom Festival Charlotte Fraser won the $500 "People's Choice" scholarship, meaning she received the most Internet votes.
Miss Chesterfield Amanda Miller received a $500 "Viewers' Choice" scholarship after receiving the most text message votes.
Jordan Frankos was named Miss Virginia's Outstanding Preteen and awarded a $1,000 scholarship, while Dominick Fink was crowned Miss Virginia's Outstanding Teen and awarded a $1,500 scholarship.
More than $50,000 in scholarships were awarded Saturday night.
Combined with Virginia's local pageant scholarships, the Miss Virginia organization awarded more than $75,000 in scholarships this year.
Miss Virginia 2009, Chinah Hellmandollar, and Miss Virginia 2010, Caitlin Uze, made several appearances, along with Miss Virginia princess, preteen, and teen titleholders.
