Sophomore Natalee Ainsworth was crowned Jones’ Most Beautiful 2022 at the annual pageant, held April 12 in the M.P. Bush Fine Arts Auditorium where 29 contestants participated in the event.
Caitlyn Crowder, Jones’ Most Beautiful 2021, returned to the stage again to pass down the crown to Ainsworth at this year’s award portion of the ceremony.
Ainsworth has been competing in pageants since an early age. She began competing in eighth grade; however, she had never been crowned Most Beautiful until this year at Jones.
“When my name was called for Most Beautiful, shocked was an understatement,” Ainsworth said. “I was sitting down backstage talking with my friend, not expecting to hear my name, and then I heard it. All I could do was laugh and smile because of how shocked I was and how overwhelming the feeling was. It was an incredible feeling; one I will never forget, and I am extremely thankful and blessed to be able to represent Jones College.”
Ainsworth credits her family for the decision to compete, but she was still nervous.
“My aunt is who inspired me to start competing in pageants. When she was in high school, she was like me and loved doing pageants and competed in the Jones pageant as well. She has always pushed me to believe in myself and have confidence in everything I do,” said Ainsworth. “To be honest, I was a little scared to sign up for the Jones pageant at first. I was talking to my mom a couple of days before the applications were due, trying to make my mind up and going back and forth on whether to do it or not, but I am so glad I did.”
Other winners include First Alternate Summer Boyd, followed by Keely Skellion, awarded Second Alternate. Third Alternate was Abney Pittman, and Analee Dumas was Fourth Alternate. Other contestants in the Top Ten included Isabella Graham, Karlee Green, Mackenzie Goleman, Madalyn Stringer and Abigail Stauffer.
The title of Miss Congeniality was given to Mary Kebodeaux, most Photogenic was awarded to Keely Skellion, and Bralynn Newell was voted Audience Choice.
Entertainment for the night was provided by emcee Renee Adcock and Jones On Stage. The pageant was hosted by the Jones Yearbook Staff and presented by pageant directors Dr. Tessa Flowers and Bruce Smith.
by Mackenzie Gunter
