9 compete for titles of Miss Tri-Cities and Miss Tri-Cities Teen on 63rd anniversary

Three women are competing for the title of Miss Tri-Cities 2024. The scholarship program is in its 63rd year.

The event is Saturday night, July 22, and also includes six teens competing for Miss Tri-Cities Teen 2024.

“Our goal is to help women become leaders in the community,” said Dot Stewart, the longtime executive director of the Miss Tri-Cities Scholarship Program.

The scholarships are intended to help them achieve their educational and future goals, she said.

This year’s contestants are Kylie Glendenning, Lindsey Rojas, and Abby Faulk.

The six teens vying to be the next Miss Tri-Cities Teen are Rylee Morris, Hadley Bleazard, Aubrey Tallman, Isabella Aubry, Giorgia Henry and Mai Ly Nguyen.

Miss Tri-Cities Teen competitors are ages 13-18 and Miss Tri-Cities candidates are 19-28.

This year’s emcees are Kristen Blair Guerrero, Miss Tri-Cities 2005 and Miss Texas 2009, and Gene Hill, a longtime pageant supporter and is known as the “Bert Parks of Idaho.”

Starring in the show are the reigning Miss Tri-Cities, Hailey Fisher, and the 2023 Miss Tri-Cities Teen, Abby Barber.

The Miss Tri-Cities Scholarship Program is an official preliminary for the Miss Washington and the Miss America competitions.

The winner of the state events will then compete in the 2025 national competitions.

The candidates compete in categories worth different points. The private interview is worth 30%, the talent competition is 20%, the evening gown is 20%, health and fitness is 20%, and the on-stage conversation is 10%.

Since the early 90’s, each candidate has been required to have a community service initiative, such as working with animals, mental health programs or another project, and they must have a talent.

In 2022, the program gave $22,000 in scholarships and their goal this year is to give $30,000.

All reserved tickets for Saturday’s program are $25 each in advance. Tickets are available at the door but the organization is encouraging attendees to buy tickets online in advance at ticketspice.com or misstricites.org.

This year’s competitions are at the Kennewick High School Auditorium beginning at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Donations are still being accepted for this year’s scholarships. For more information on the Miss Tri-Cities Scholarship Program, visit the webpage, misstricities.org or call Dot Stewart at 509 539-3252.

This story was originally published July 19, 2023 at 12:46 PM.