MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — The finals of the Miss West Virginia Pageant are set for Saturday night in Martinsburg.
Outgoing Miss West Virginia Karrington Childress and Miss West Virginia’s Teen Allison Dodson will crown their successors.
Ahead of their final day to wear their crowns, the two sat down on Panhandle Live. The two Jefferson County residents were asked about their most memorable experiences during the past year.
Childress, who plans a career in elementary education, said it was interacting with youth.
“It’s been nothing short of amazing. I’m going to cry thinking about it. I’m so incredibly grateful for his experience,” Childress said.
Childress took a year off from her studies at Shepherd University as she served the state as Miss West Virginia, but plans to get back into her studies in the fall.
For her part, Dodson, a recent graduate of Washington High School, said taking her social impact message to a broader audience was key.
“My ear has been amazing, I’ve traveled. I’ve also spoken with children but with my community service, my project is hooked to environmental so I get to talk to everybody about it,” Dodson said.
The finals will cap off a week’s worth of activities for the contestants from across the state who will compete in four groups in talent, fitness, evening wear and on stage question.
Hosting the competition this week will be Miss America 2020 Camille Schrier, a Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University graduate who says her accomplishments in the Miss America Organization and Miss Virginia Organization meant $77,000 in scholarships.
Schrier, who is originally from Pennsylvania, said she has passed through Martinsburg on I-81 numerous times on her way to and from school, said she applauds the shift in the Miss America organization away from swimsuit and body image:
“I am proud to be the first Miss America who never wore a swimsuit at any phase of competition in my entire Miss America experience,” Schrier said.
Preliminaries are Friday evening.
The finals begin Saturday with a Red Carpet Arrival at 7 p.m. at the Airborne Event Center at 172 Creative Place in Martinsburg. Finals are set for 8 p.m.
All competitions are available via livestream with free public access. Follow Miss West Virginia Organization on Facebook for links.
The winners will compete in the upcoming Miss America pageant.