The queen’s court included Hallie Turner (from left), Honey Balfour, 2016 Rose Queen Alexandra Beadles, Aubrey Brinkley and Malley Celaya.

THOMASVILLE — If you were not in the audience at the 2016 Rose Queen Pageant Saturday evening, then you missed out. Beautiful, smart young ladies, superb entertainment and a packed auditorium made for an exciting evening.

Alexandra Beadles was crowned the 2016 Thomasville Rose Queen.  The daughter of Dora and Bryant Beadles, is a junior at Brookwood School. She is the winner of a $1,000 scholarship to enhance her post-high school education. Beadles is a varsity athlete in multiple sports and an active community volunteer, sharing her time and talents with organizations like Hands on Thomas County and Project Backyard. She is also involved in her student government and her church. She plans to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology to pursue a degree in international business management.

The Thomasville Rose Queen Pageant is open to girls who are high school juniors and who are residents of Thomasville and Thomas County. Being the Thomasville Rose Queen means more than just wearing a crown: the Rose Queen becomes a part of Thomasville’s rich history and a role model for the community.

“What sets the rose queen apart is the winner is usually a girl who is extremely busy in all aspects of her life, and also one who is physically fit,” Hulaine Powell, Rose Queen Committee chairperson, said. “We want a young lady who is not only academically strong, but who is also strong in leadership skills, strong in her school, and strong in promoting physical fitness. We want someone who is a well-rounded individual.”

This year’s pageant featured 19 contestants, each with outstanding credentials.

“I was incredibly impressed by this group of young women,” said Karen Smith, executive director of Main Street and Tourism. “Each young lady is a well-rounded student, athlete, and role model to younger girls. This group worked hard to make the pageant a positive learning experience for everyone involved, and impressed all of us with their maturity and commitment to the pageant and to Thomasville.”

The competition included an opening number, a fitness routine, an interview portion, an essay and an evening gown competition. The top five finalists competed in the on-stage question portion. Then, category winners were announced, followed by the crowning of the new queen.

First runner-uUp was Aubrey Brinkley, daughter of Jennifer and Chad Brinkley and a Thomasville Scholars Academy student. She was awarded a $750 scholarship.

Second runner-up was Honey Balfour, daughter of Shannon and Charles Balfour. She is a student at Brookwood School and was awarded a $500 scholarship.

Third runner-up was Hallie Turner, daughter of Carla and Ty Turner. A student at the Thomasville Scholars Academy, she was awarded a $350 scholarship.

Fourth runner-up was Malley Celaya, daughter of Desiree and Ben Celaya and a Thomasville Scholars Academy student. She received a $250 scholarship.

Each year the pageant also features preliminary winners. The preliminary fitness winner was Aubrey Brinkley; preliminary evening gown winner was Honey Balfour; and the preliminary essay winner was Angela Cipriani.

This year’s pageant was hosted by mistress of ceremonies, Karla Heath-Sands who also performed multiple songs.

Stringonometry, Joel Carter and Miss Georgia 2014 Maggie Bridges Kearney also entertained the nearly packed house while auditors carefully tabulated the final scores.

The new Rose Queen and her Court will reign over all of the 95th Annual Rose Show and Festival’s activities. “Having the Rose Queen appear at festival events is always a highlight,” Karen Smith, executive director of Thomasville Main Street and Tourism, said. “The float carrying the Rose Queen and her court in the Rose Parade is very much anticipated and a crowd favorite.”

Smith added it is important to have youth involved in long-standing community traditions like the festival.

“It is the young people in our community who carry on these traditions, improve upon them and add new ones,” she said. “Their enthusiasm, energy and vitality is refreshing.”

The 2016 Thomasville Rose Queen Pageant is an official event of the 95th Annual Rose Show and Festival, which is sponsored by CNS.