PIKE: Pike County dominates Miss Quincy pageant
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By BETH ZUMWALT
Submitted photo
Juliana Fray, daughter of Donnie and Jennifer Fray of Pittsfield won the title of Miss Quincy Saturday night. She was also selected as People Choice. Fray, who turned 23 Monday. Jan.10 attends the University of Tampa, majoring in political science, received a $3,000 scholarship and a variety of prizes from local businesses.
“Oh my gosh, they called my name, they called my name”
Juliana Fray said that was the first thought that went through her mind when she was named Miss Quincy 2022 Saturday night in Quincy.
Fray was on stage tightly gripping the hand of the other remaining contestant, who ironically was Ashley Miller of Perry, when her name was called.
“I was nervous,” Fray said. “I’m happy, thankful and surprised.”
Fray has held the Miss Quincy Outstanding Teen title and West Central Illinois Most Outstanding Teen. She was also Junior Miss and Miss Pike County and two titles in Florida, where she attends college, Miss Winterhaven and Miss Florida Citrus.
In addition to a crown, Fray received received a $3,000 scholarship and a variety of prizes from local businesses.
For her talent portion of the pageant, Fray performed a musical theatre dance, using music from the Broadway play, Chicago. The dance was choreographed by Ashley Waters of Ashley Dance’s Academy.
The win at Quincy will parlay into a trip to Bloomington to compete for the Miss Illinois crown and if successful, Miss America in Connecticut. The Miss Illinois pageant will be May 28-30 at Braden Auditorium on the campus of Illinois State University. The Miss America Pageant will be in December.
She will perform another dance for her Miss Illinois competition.
Ashley Miller, also 23, a student from Culver-Stockton and a native of the Fishhook area was first runner up. She won a $500 scholarship. She was also selected the winner of the Montana Neisen Platform Promise Award which earned her another $150 in scholarship money.
The pageant also presented a Miss Quincy Outstanding Teen, which was won by Allie Peterson of Winchester. First runner-up was Kaydee Rennecker of Barry.
Rennecker is a sophomore at Western High School and the daughter of Chad and Lindsey Rennecker.
She also has competed in pageants before including being crowned Junior Miss Hull, Junior Miss New Canton, Junior Miss Pike County. She is her class secretary, and a member of the Future Business Leaders of American. She does competitive dance and plays softball.
Former Miss Quincy has advice
By BETH ZUMWALT
Stacy Hillenbrenner Roseberry has some advice for Juliana Fray. In addition to sending her congratulations and wishing her good luck, Roseberry has practical advice.
“Keep your eyes open and be true to yourself,” Roseberry said.
Roseberry was Miss Quincy at one time. She went on to be second runner-up at the Miss Illinois pageant. She also lived in Palmyra, Mo., for a while, and won Miss Palmyra and went on to a fourth place finish in the Miss Missouri pageant. She also was first runner-up in the Land of Lincoln pageant.
She said pageants attracted her because of the scholarship money offered.
“It helped put me through college,” she said. “That and professional dance education.”
Submitted photo
Kaydee Rennecker, daughter of Chad and Lindsey Rennecker, of Barry was first runner-up in the Miss Quincy Outstanding Teen pageant Saturday night in Quincy.
Submitted photo
Ashley Miller, daughter of Chris and Toni Miller of Fishhook was the first runner-up in the Miss Quincy Pageant Saturday night. She also received the Montana Neisen Platform Promise Award. Both awards contained scholarship money.
