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Herrin's Sophia Davie is new Festa Pageant Queen

HERRIN - An 18-year-old recently graduated Herrin High School senior was crowned Miss HerrinFesta Italiana Pageant Queen Monday night at the Herrin Civic Center.

Sophia Davie beat out 10 other candidates to claim the first-place prize, which includes a $2,500 cash scholarship award, trophy, banner, roses, and more.

"Never in a million years did I think I would win," said a beaming Davie just moments after posing for additional photos on stage.

Surprisingly, she was competing in a pageant for the first time.

"I was so very happy for everyone else. I couldn't believe it when they called my name," Davie said.

The daughter of Scott and Rachele Davie of Herrin, Sophia said she is a third-generation Italian and is "honored and proud to represent her Italian heritage" at HerrinFesta this week.

Asked what prompted her to compete in a pageant, Davie said she likes new challenges.

"I was on our Homecoming Court last fall and felt really comfortable with that. I told my family that I wanted to do it and they backed me 100 percent."

Davie said she felt her strongest area of competition was the evening gown portion of the show. She was dressed in a white A-Line dress made by Johnathan Kayne accented with AB Rhinestones.

Named First Runner-Up was another Herrin teen, 17-year-old Charli Elliott, who earned a $250 cash scholarship award and trophy for her efforts.

Second Runner-Up was McKena Miller of Carbondale. The 23-year-old won a $200 cash scholarship.

Third Runner-Up went to Addison Osman, 17, of Anna, who won a $150 cash scholarship award.

Fourth Runner-Up and Miss Photogenic went to Haley Johnston, 20, of Pinckneyville.

"I'm shocked that a first-time pageant participant like Sophia would win tonight," said longtime pageant coordinator Melissa Morgan. "But she is so beautiful and did such a wonderful job competing on stage against a very strong field of candidates. She deserved to win."

Morgan, herself a former pageant participant, said she was also proud that another Herrinite walked away (ever so elegantly) with the Festa pageant title.

"I'm backstage with the girls, so I don't get to see as much of the pageant as I would like, but what I saw I liked a lot. I think Sophia will make a great Festa queen."

Sophia Davie's first-ever pageant entry resulted in her being crowned Miss HerrinFesta Italiana Monday evening. Jonathan LeBlond photo