KENNEWICK -- Jerrica Fowler said during her onstage interview at the Miss Tri-Cities pageant Saturday night that trying your best is what's important, not whether you walk away with the crown.
The judges must have liked that, because Fowler did walk away with the crown, a $10,000 scholarship and a chance to compete to become Miss Washington, or maybe even Miss America.
Fowler, 20, was one of 11 contestants competing for the honor of becoming Miss Tri-Cities 2009 during a four-hour program in the Kennewick High School auditorium.
Alyssa Fennell, 23, was named first runner-up and won a $5,000 scholarship. Second runner-up Adrienne Bousquet, 18, won a $2,500 scholarship.
Also competing Saturday were six girls hoping to follow Cheyenne Van Tine as Miss Tri-Cities Outstanding Teen. Van Tine recently was named first runner up at the Miss Washington Outstanding Teen pageant in Burien.
That title and a $1,500 cash award went to 15-year-old Samantha Brown, who sang I Can't Do It Alone from the Broadway musical Chicago during the talent portion.
Miss Tri-Cities is an official preliminary to the Miss Washington and Miss America pageants. The event is sponsored by the Tri-City Water Follies Association.
Contestants competed in categories that included an interview, talent, physical fitness in swimwear, poise and personality in evening wear and an onstage question to determine the winner.
Teens competed in physical fitness in aerobic wear rather than swimwear.
Each contestant also had a platform or cause she will promote during her year of service.
Fowler will use her time as Miss Tri-Cities to promote mentoring as a way to build a new generation. As Miss Tri-Cities Outstanding Teen, Brown will advocate for GEAR UP, a program that puts middle school students on the path to college.
Miss America 1987 Kellye Cash provided levity during the lengthy program, cracking jokes about her time as the nation's reigning beauty queen, and later singing a Patsy Cline medley to thunderous applause from the audience.
Other "visiting royalty" included Miss Washington 2009 Devanni Partridge, Miss Washington Outstanding Teen 2009 Reina Almon and Miss Texas 2009 Kristen Blair, who also reigned as Miss Tri-Cities 2005.
Van Tine and outgoing Miss Tri-Cities Kyna Harris also had moments in the spotlight once more to show off their talent and to say goodbye after a whirlwind year culminating in the state pageant in Burien on July 11.
Fowler and Brown will compete in the state pageant in 2010.
* Michelle Dupler: 509-582-1543; mdupler@tricityherald.com
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The Miss Tri-Cities Scholarship Program is seeking applicants for the 2012 Miss Tri-Cities Pageant and the 2012 Miss Tri-Cities Outstanding Teen Pageant.
Contestants will have an opportunity to win more than $25,000 in scholarships, and the new title holders will have an opportunity to compete in the 2013 Miss Washington and Miss Washington Outstanding Teen Pageants.
To compete in the Miss Tri-Cities pageant, contestants must be ages 17 to 24 and a high school graduate. To compete in the teen pageant, contestants must be ages 13 to 17 and cannot be a senior.
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"Watch this!" he said and pressed the buttons on his bed to show how it could go up and down.
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Time does seem to fly when you're watching sports, and the Mid-Columbia has certainly done it's share to fill the news cycle during 2011.
A couple of local athletes made a splash on the national stage, and all three Tri-Cities' sports franchises made a push for league championships. A few high school teams reached the pinnacle of their sport by winning state titles.
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