Big smiles, glittery jewelry and bright dresses kicked off the 2005 Days of '47 Pioneer Day celebrations, as the royalty was crowned Saturday night.
Kimber Hasenyager, a Weber State student studying dental hygiene, was crowned queen. The Farmington resident will receive a $3,000 scholarship. Hasenyager said she has wanted to compete in the pageant since childhood, when her grandmother took her to Daughters of Utah Pioneers meetings.
"Hearing the lessons and learning the pioneer stories that were shared was awesome," Hasenyager wrote in her contestant biography.
First attendant April Johnson, a Brigham Young University student studying nursing, and second attendant Kalina Scherbel, a BYU student studying chemical engineering, will each receive a $2,500 scholarship.
"I'm excited to represent the strong values that the pioneers represent and be a role model," Scherbel said. She is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
Rules require that contestants are women with a pioneer ancestry, are between age 18-25, have never been married and uphold high moral and dress standards. The 65 contestants participated in judges' interviews, on-stage questioning and street and formal wear competitions.
"I feel privileged to represent through our ancestors," Johnson said. Johnson plans on serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the end of August.
Royalty will reign over Days of '47 events and will speak and participate in community events during the year.
"I am so glad I decided to do this because it truly has changed my life," said Jennifer Winn, the 2004 queen and a broadcast journalism major at BYU. "For everything we went through, it was a life changing experience."
The pageant, sponsored by Daughters of Utah Pioneers, is the first of 18 events in the Days of '47 celebrations. This year's theme is "Our Pioneer Heritage: A Living Legacy."
E-mail: astowell@desnews.com