BURIEN — Hannah Price, a 2012 graduate of North Kitsap High School, was named first runner-up in the Miss Washington Pageant on July 6 in Burien.
Miss West Sound Megan Leibold of Poulsbo finished in the top 10.
Miss Evergreen Reina Almon won the title. Miss Columbia Basin Shannon Twohy was second runner-up, Miss Eastside Kelsey Schmidt was third runner-up, and Miss Moses Lake Catherine Watters was fourth runner-up.
As first runner-up, Price becomes Miss Washington if the title is vacated.
Miss Washington is the state’s preliminary to the Miss America Pageant. The Miss America Organization is the world’s largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women.
As first runner-up, Price received a $5,000 scholarship and will travel to Hoopeston, Ill., in August to represent Washington in the National Sweetheart Pageant, which is held for the runners-up from the Miss America state pageants. The winner of the pageant receives a $1,000 scholarship and a pendant shaped like an ear of corn.
Since 1980, five Miss National Sweetheart winners have gone on to win the Miss America title.
Price will begin her sophomore year in September at the University of Washington, where she is a member of Delta Delta Delta and is working on an undergraduate degree in law and justice.
Price was sponsored by Kym Mason and Eagle Home Mortgage, Tara Templeton of Tara’s Photo Design, Jodi Derry of Our Place Pub & Eatery, Steve Hillman of Wheels Woods, Dr. Dawn Divano of Meadowdale Dental Center.
Price said she has won nearly $10,000 in scholarships in her pageantry career.
She was Miss West Sound and competed for Miss Washington in 2012. She was first runner-up for Miss Seattle and competed for Miss Liberty — known as a second-chance pageant for former Miss Washington contestants — this year.
She said she expects to compete for Miss Washington again in 2014.
Price has used her titles to call attention to, and raise money for Children’s Miracle Network and to break down barriers for individuals who have disabilities.
Leibold, who has used pageantry to advocate for music education, said of her first Miss Washington experience:
“[Finishing in the] Top 10 was amazing, as well as receiving Rookie of the Year I received $2,500 in scholarships.
“As of now. it’s up in the air if I will try out for Miss Washington. I’m wanting to, more and more, as the days go by but I have a few months to decide. After that, I will volunteer to work at pageants and begin a pageant coaching business with my friend, Kirstie Schroeder. So, pageantry will always be a part of my life.”
