By By Adrienne McKenzie
Northview High School's Miss NHS 2007 Pageant was deemed a success with record participation and an over-capacity crowd Saturday night.
The theme of the program was "007" and there were many "Bond" girls waiting to take home the crown.
Senior Dani Tyree amazed the judges with her sparkling dress and dazzling smile winning the title of "Bond" girl for the evening. Miss NHS 2006, Olivia Godwin, crowned Tyree Miss NHS 2007 after much deliberation by the three-judge panel. First runner-up was senior Rachel Daniels and senior Adrea Watford was named second runner-up.
"I was very pleased with how the pageant went," pageant director Anna Barry said. "I know it was a hard decision for the judges with 30 girls competing."
Other awards given at the pageant were Miss Congeniality, Miss Physical Fitness, Miss Hospitality and Miss Poise and Appearance.
The girls in the pageant voted Chelsea Sims as Miss Congeniality based on her willingness to "help" and "befriend" everyone throughout the competition. The judges selected Daniels as Miss Hospitality because of her "warmth" and "compassion" during her interview process. Miss Physical Fitness, Tyree, and Miss Poise and Appearance, Rachel Killam, were based on the highest score in each area judged.
The Top 10 included, Rachel Killam, senior; Kasey Baggett, junior; Chelsea Sims, sophomore; Ashley Cameron, sophomore; Ashley Snow, sophomore; Meridith Weaver, senior; Amber Holland, sophomore; Adrea Watford, senior; Rachel Daniels, senior; and Dani Tyree, senior.
Barry said that overall the program went very well. She said it was the first year so many girls participated. Prior to 2007, the largest number of participants was 22. Last year, 12 girls participated in the pageant and in 2005 there were only eight girls that competed.
"We put on a good program last year," Barry said about this year's increased number in participants. "The caliber has risen and the girls know that it is not a joke."
Due to the large number of participants, people were turned away at the door because the auditorium was filled to capacity. Barry said that around 360 people were allowed in to see the pageant, but the auditorium only holds around 340.
"We had to bring chairs in to hold all of the audience members," she said. "It was the largest crowd we've ever had."
Barry said that with such a large number of competitors and with all of the beautiful young ladies involved, the decision for the judges was definitely not an easy one to make.
"People loved the showmanship and the physical fitness routine," Barry said. "I could not have asked for the pageant to have gone any smoother."