Castlegar has a new queen and princess. The winners of the annual Miss Castlegar pageant were crowned Friday night at Stanley Humphries Secondary School.
LeeAnn Zaitsoff was crowned Miss Castlegar and Emily Hultgren Castlegar Princess.
“This is definitely the adrenaline rush of the year,” said Zaitsoff after the pageant. “I am very grateful, I was lucky enough to have such a great candidacy with such incredible girls. I think any one of the girls deserved the crown tonight. I am so grateful for the program and what they have given to me.”
Hultgren was also thrilled were her victory.
“I can not believe that I did it and that all of us did it,” she said. “I am so proud of every single one of us and the roads that we took to get here. It is the best feeling in the world.”
The winner is determined through a points system which awards up to 30 points for the five month training period, 30 points from a personal interview, 15 points for the pageant speech, 10 points for the pageant talent display, 10 points for the evening gown presentation and five points for the pageant impromptu question.
Jessica Esovoloff won the queen committee training award, Emma Lawczynski won the runner-up speech award, LeeAnn Zaitsoff won the speech award, Emma Lawczynski won the runner-up talent award, Emma Hultgren won the talent award, Deannah Kaiser won the perseverance award and Emily Hultgren won Miss Friendship.
This year marks 70 years of Miss Castlegar competitions and some former Miss Castlegar winners were recognized at the pageant including the very first Miss Castlegar.