Chelsea Wahl of the Kiln community, daughter of Doug and Donna Wahl, was selected 2008 Hancock County Junior Miss on Feb. 24 at the Picayune Memorial High School Auditorium. She attends Hancock High School. She also won the Interview Preliminary and will compete for the title of Mississippi’s Junior Miss in Meridian the last week of July. The winner of the state competition will go on to compete in Mobile in June 2008.

DeRae Graham, daughter of Dawn Graham and the late Richard Graham was selected as First Alternate. Kristen Kergosien, daughter of Patrick and Hope Kergosien, was selected Second Alternate, and she also won the Talent Preliminary.

Other preliminary winners include: Scholastic winner, Elizabeth Fucich, daughter of Clayton and Kathleen Fucich; Self Expression winner, Lauren Turcotte, daughter of David Turcotte and Ginger Dastugue; Fitness Preliminary, Brittany Keely, daughter of Garth Keely and the late Bonita Keely. She also won the “Be Your Best Self” essay contest. “Spirit of Junior Miss” Award, selected by the contestants, went to Alyece Brogel, daughter of Daniel and Pennie Brogel.

Escorts for the evening were John Wright, Raoul Boughton, Keith Wall, Jameson Sacco, Cody Moak, Shiloh Pisarich, T. J. Graham, John Newkirk, who all attend Hancock High School; Garrett Sotak, Colby Adam, and Robert Ebherhart, who attend Bay St. Louis High School; Nathan Kren, and Jeff Bourg, who attend St. Stanislaus High School; and Brian Whitman who is a freshman at USM.

The program was choreographed by Casey Marquar and Abbie Schmidt from Diamondhead Dance Academy.

Victoria Romano, the outgoing 2007 Hancock County Junior Miss shared in her farewell speech, the positive experiences she has had. She also encouraged Hancock County citizens to get involved with the Junior Miss organization.

Sponsors for America’s Junior Miss include Mitchell Co., Alabam Power, Encore Rehabilitation, INc., Mobil Gas, Regions Bank, Wintzell’s Oyster House, City of Mobile, and Mobiel County Alabama. The 48th annual America’s 2007 Junior Miss National Finals will be held in Mobile, Ala. in June.

To join the organization or learn more about it call 228-493-0059.