SYLACAUGA, Ala. – After a year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Miss Alabama pageant is back and in full swing.
In previous years, the Miss Alabama pageant was hosted at Samford University but this year the pageant will be returning to the historic Alabama Theater.
The Alabama Theater became host to the Miss Alabama pageant from 1938-1966. It is bittersweet to see the return of the pageant to this historic theatre.
The competition will be held June 10-12. Throughout the competition days, each candidate will compete in the following categories; each being a certain percentage of their overall score: Interview (20%), Talent (50%), Evening Wear (15%), and Onstage Interview (15%). There are 39 candidates hoping to be awarded the title of Miss Alabama on June 12.
Three of the contestants competing for the crown are local beauties. They are Annie Ozment, Ibby Dickson, and Caitlyn McTier.
Annie Ozment, Miss Coosa Valley
Age: 22 years old
School/Major: 1st Year Clinical Doctorate in Occupational Therapy Student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
Talent: Vocal: “Tomorrow” from the musical Annie
Social Impact Initiative: Our Daily Bread: Rising to Meet the Needs of Alabama’s Food Insecure (I partner with Alabama Childhood Food Solutions as their spokesperson, fundraiser organizer, and volunteer. I’ve raised over $35,000 for ACFS in collaboration with Talladega County Schools.)
Here’s more information about Annie:
Annie describes herself as… “A risk taker. I’ve never let the fear of being told no keep me from chasing my dreams. I have always set high goals for myself and although things have not always ended the way I hoped, I relentlessly chase after my next goal. I know there’s a greater plan and I believe things will always turn out the way God has planned for me, so I continue to follow my heart, take risks, and accomplish the goals I set for myself.”
Where is Annie from? “I was born and raised in sweet, little Childersburg. It’s a community that loves, supports, and serves those in it. My favorite memory as Miss Childersburg is receiving a key to the city from Mayor Wesson and being interviewed at the historical Rainwater House by the local newspaper. I am so lucky to have the opportunity to give back to my hometown through Our Daily Bread, visiting previous teachers and their current classes, and meeting people who remind me why Childersburg is such a special place to anyone who calls it home. I am grateful and honored to have the opportunity to represent Childersburg at Miss Alabama.”
What has prepared Annie for this opportunity? “After a year of significant loss and changes, I realized the true importance of chasing after my dreams with all I’ve got while I have the chance. I spent many days setting high goals for myself during our nation’s shut down. Over the last year, I have pushed myself to limits I never thought I would reach. I have woken up daily and given my all to each obligation, practice, workout, or meeting in which I have participated to prepare for the upcoming competition. My Papa lost his battle to cancer and COVID-19 in November. Since that day, I’ve strived to live out the advice he shared with me while he was here. After years of teaching me the game of golf, he had ingrained in my mind, “you perform the way you practice.” That phrase alone has encouraged me to treat each day as if it were the actual competition and because of that preparation, I feel more confident now than ever before to take on Miss Alabama week.”
Ibby Dickson, Miss Sylacauga
Age: 19
School/Major: University of Alabama with a major in News Media and Political Science
Talent: Vocal – “Heart of Stone”
Social Impact Initiative: Mentoring Matters: PowerUp2Empower
More information about Ibby:
What defines Ibby? “I believe what defines a person is the ability to overcome negative occurrences and rise above them. What defines me is my will to remain positive when things aren’t looking up. My faith and deep appreciation for the simple wonders of life ultimately gives me the ability to do so throughout my day-to-day life.”
What does this opportunity to compete mean to Ibby? It means being able to represent my hometown community to the rest of Alabama. I am a product of Sylacauga, and I am thrilled to be able to show the pageant community and beyond how truly unique and remarkable Sylacauga is.
What has prepared Ibby for this moment? “My family has always supported me and stood by my side through every step of the way. Their guidance and encouragement have prepared me not only for Miss Alabama, but how I go about my everyday life”
What defines Ibby? “I believe what defines a person is the ability to overcome negative occurrences and rise above them. What defines me is my will to remain positive when things aren’t looking up. My faith and deep appreciation for the simple wonders of life ultimately gives me the ability to do so throughout my day-to-day life.”
What does this opportunity to compete mean to Ibby? “It means being able to represent my hometown community to the rest of Alabama. I am a product of Sylacauga, and I am thrilled to be able to show the pageant community and beyond how truly unique and remarkable Sylacauga is.”
What has prepared Ibby for this moment? “My family has always supported me and stood by my side through every step of the way. Their guidance and encouragement have prepared me not only for Miss Alabama, but how I go about my everyday life”
Caitlyn McTier, Miss Hoover
Age: 21
School/Major: Recent graduate of the University of Alabama with a degree in News Media
Talent: Vocal – “Once Upon A Time” from the Broadway musical “Brooklyn”
Social Impact Initiative: Project F.I.E.R.C.E
More information about Caitlyn:
What defines Caitlyn? “My relationship with the Lord defines me, but also having goals for myself to be the best version of myself.”
What does this opportunity to compete mean to Caitlyn? “Having the opportunity to compete means the absolute world to me. As a student who has been a part of the organization for nine years, you don’t realize you have lost something until it is gone. COVID put a pause on pageant life and made me realize how much I really loved the system and what being Miss Alabama really meant to me and I finally have the opportunity to compete and it’s exciting. I am really thrilled to see what happens this summer.”
What has prepared Caitlyn for this moment? “The years of me working hard and being able to meet so many people has really prepared me for this job. I have a good understanding of what the role of Miss Alabama really is. So much of it is a job. It’s not always glamorous, even though so much of what the outside people that see makes being a pageant girl look like a glamorous job. It is a lot of hard work preparing for Miss America, managing social media, serving as ambassadors for Children’s Hospital and Children’s of Alabama. Knowing what all of those obligations are makes me so excited and I know I am prepared to take on the role of Miss Alabama if given the opportunity.”
While there are 39 contestants competing in this year’s pageant, these three ladies certainly have what it takes to become the next Miss Alabama.
Follow Miss Alabama on social media platforms to stay informed about more competition details and updates.
This story contributed by RadioAlabama Student Ambassador, Jayla Duncan.
