Ashley Johnson, daughter of Stephen and Alesa Johnson of Somerset, represented Somerset Community College at the 2014 Miss Kentucky Pageant in Lexington, Kentucky July 10-12. The pageant is the official state preliminary pageant to the Miss America Pageant.Johnson was named a semi-finalist and was the winner of the “Kentucky’s Choice” on-line voting that occurred leading up to the pageant. The thirteen semi-finalists competed in swimsuit, talent and evening wear before five finalists were announced. While Johnson did not advance to the finals, she remained positive about the experience.
“I am so grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Miss Kentucky Pageant,” said Johnson. “It was an incredible week. The girls, staff and the whole Miss Kentucky Board of Directors were great. I felt like I was at home the whole time!” Johnson went on to personally thank SCC President and CEO Dr. Jo Marshall, pageant director Dr. Ron Meade and all the employees at Somerset Community College for their continual love and support throughout the process.
“I am so blessed that I had, and still have, such a great group of people behind me,” Johnson said. “This made the whole Miss Kentucky experience twenty times better.”
Johnson participated in a number of activities leading up to the event. She modeled in a fashion shown at Fayette Mall and was one of four contestants selected to participate in a television interview for WKYT. She collaborated with pageant roommate Cynthia Thomas to win a door decorating competition, received a $550 scholarship for advertising sales, and received a $500 award from Drs. Laura Justice, DMD and Cheryl Pearson, DMD for the “Best Smile” award. In total, she received more than $1,550 in scholarships and awards at the pageant.
“We could not have been prouder of Ashley’s performance,” said SCC’s Dr. Ron Meade. “She really had a very short time to prepare compared to the other contestants and many do not understand the amount of time and energy goes into preparing for a state-level event such as this. She performed extremely well, given that this is her first major pageant; we expect big things from her in the future.”
The winner of the title was Ramsey Carpenter of Hartford, who fiddled “Sally Goodin and the Orange Blossom Special” for talent. She will represent Kentucky at the Miss America Pageant in September.
Other semi-finalists included: Dakoda Trenary, Miss Heartland; Kaley Tabor, Miss University of Kentucky; Kyle Hornback, Miss Belle of Louisville; Laura Jones, Miss River City; Kiley Shuffett, Miss Monticello; Claire Butler, Miss Bowling Green; Melissa Cox, Miss Lexington; Talia Horn, Miss Pride of Cardinal City; April Reinle, Miss Mammoth Cave Area; Ashley Ferry, Miss Jefferson County; and Erynn Landherr, Miss Berea Area.
Each Miss Kentucky selects a “Bluegrass Princess” to participate in the pageant. Johnson’s Bluegrass Princess was Jayci Brooke Gullett, daughter of Jason and Tammy Gullett, of Bowling Green. Gullett is eight years old, attends Alvaton Elementary School and is Johnson’s first cousin.
This was SCC’s first year of participation in the Miss Kentucky Scholarship Program. For information about competing in or sponsoring the next Miss SCC Pageant, contact the pageant’s director at ron.meade@kctcs.edu.