Laura Stuart

Laren Lewis became the reigning Junior Miss for Baldwin County Saturday night in Bay Minette taking home the title, the self-expression award and the interview award, but the weight of the medal around her neck has not gone to her head.

“The only reason I know it is real, and that it actually happened to me is that I still have the medal," Lewis said. "It is still here. It is still mine."

Lewis holds a charm and unabashed modesty that makes it hard not to fall under the spell of this vivacious senior at Robertsdale High School who worries more about her college plans and busy schedule than her title.

"People keep asking me about my college plans, and if I know where I am going," Lewis said. "I have it narrowed down to three; does that count?"

The three are Samford University in Birmingham, Syracuse University in up-state New York and American University in Washington.

“I have one close and two far away," Lewis said, "It is going to be where God takes me."

 While she may not know where she will get her major, Lewis said she is sure that she wants to major in international relations.

 "I want to work with the humanitarian efforts of developing countries," Lewis said.

 Lewis said her Type A personality helps her manage honors classes, interning with Children of the World, church, dance, clubs and being a class officer.

 "In my Junior Miss interview, they asked me how I managed to be involved in all the activities that I do," Lewis said. "My plate is usually jam-packed."

 Lewis said she sometimes has multiple meetings at break, which can be a problem, but she gets everything done.

 "It was easy to do Junior Miss," Lewis said. "Rehearsals began at the end of July and took place every Sunday afternoon until the competition.

 "It seems like a long time when you talk about it, but it went by so fast," Lewis said. "

 Lewis said Kailyn Baker, last year's Baldwin County Junior Miss, was there every step of the way.

 "She is so sweet, and she was the encouragement that I needed," Lewis said. "She was there before my interview. She told me that when she was in my place she put everything in God's hands because she could not control it. She was right.

 "I took her advice, and I thought to myself if it is meant to happen it will happen."

 Lewis said her favorite thing about being a part of Junior Miss was getting know the "competition".

 “We did not think of each other as the competition," Lewis said. "It was never about that, and I have made some amazing friends."

  Lewis said an hour and a half before the curtain went up, the girls had a candlelight service to share their favorite parts of the Junior Miss experience.

"It was a chance to talk about what we felt and had grown by being a part of Junior Miss; it was inspiring. The moment before the curtain went up, butterflies hit. I was not scared to be on stage, but I realized that in a minute the curtain was going to rise and there was no turning back."

  Lewis said there was no room for nerves when she was waiting for the results to be read.

  "I was shocked," she said. "I did not think I would place, much less win. I was thinking that I had met such wonderful girls and put in so much work. I was proud of myself for that."

  Lewis said she wants to bring awareness of the Junior Miss program to the public during the year ahead.

  "I want people to know that it is not a beauty pageant. That term has such a negative stigma," Lewis said. "Junior Miss is not about your outward appearance or materialistic things. It is about scholarship. It is about personality and intelligence."

  Lewis said she is walking into her new title with self-confidence.

  "It is such a boost," she said. "It is a delight to watch self-esteem grow in me and the other girls from the first rehearsal to the final performance. We have come so far. I think a lot of girls my age have self-esteem issues. I want to do what I can to help."

  Lewis said she has 30 days to complete her paperwork for the Alabama Junior Miss competition.

Joining Lewis in the top five were Katherine English, first runner-up, Bayside Academy; Alyssa Holley, second runner-up, Robertsdale High School; Allison Hudson, third runner-up, Fairhope High School; and Hillary Sweet, fourth runner-up, Fairhope High School.

 Winners were recognized in five preliminary categories, each receiving a $250 tuition scholarship. Recipients were self-expression, Lewis and Allison Hudson; interview, Lewis; fitness, Alyssa Holley and Allison Hudson; talent, Katherine English and Deeon Hyde, Faith Presbyterian Christian School; and scholastics, Mary Marks Nelson, Alabama School of Math and Science.

Mary Davis, Spanish Fort High School, won the Be Your Best Essay Contest. Hillary Street, Fairhope High School, won the Spirit of Junior Miss award. Brittany Clay won the award for program ad sales. Lewis won ticket sales.

Also participating in Saturday’s program were Chelsea Sundle, Robertsdale High School; Jennifer Frego, Fairhope High School; Paige Trawick, Fairhope High School; Jessica Meeks, Foley High School; Brandi Tucker, Foley High School; Lauren Kate Matchett, Daphne High School; and Coral Zolczynski, Fairhope High School.