Delaney Ferrell does her school proud

Photo by Katy Ferrell

DELANEY FERRELL

Fife School District, and Fife High School in particular, received a great honor last weekend when Fife High sophomore Delaney Ferrell competed in the first-ever Miss High School America Pageant in Branson, Mo. In fact, the entire state of Washington was done proud, as Farrell is our state’s first Miss Washington High School, the precursor to moving on to the national pageant’s inaugural event.

The 16-year-old Ferrell said she was very happy to see her new friend Carina Romero, Miss South Carolina High School, take the crown as winner at the Miss High School America Pageant held last week at the Dick Clark American Bandstand Theater in Branson. From among the 51 contestants – one from each state plus District of Columbia – Romero was chosen along with four runners-up, and Farrell said she had these top-five girls singled out from the start. “I could tell these girls were the best,” she said.

There were three phases of competition: a five-minute interview with the judges, plus a fashion and an evening gown portion. “It was really fun. A little bit exhausting, but a lot of fun. I was rooming with Miss Washington, D.C. High School and we had a great time together.”

Ferrell has been involved in pageants since she was 12 years old when she participated in the National American Miss pageant, but the Miss High School America pageant presented her with new challenges, like not having her mother beside her at all times as her helper. “But I got the hang of it,” Ferrell said, noting that the pageant directors strive to give the girls a chance to build their own self-confidence by not having their parents handy to lean on.

“When I first started (in pageants) I was really shy,” Ferrell said, “but once you do a couple of pageants you realize the judges are there to cheer you on and want you to do well.”

A charming, poised and confident young lady, Farrell seems made for success both on the pageant stage and on the stage of life. Her intellect is amazing. She’s in all honors classes this year and one of three sophomores in pre-calculus. She plays flute for the Fife High Concert Band, pep band and marching band. She is a member of Future Business Leaders of America and National Honors Society. She plans to try out for the cheer squad next year. She’s been a competitive gymnast, an all-star cheerleader and continues in dance competitions. She has a part-time job and volunteers at Mill Ridge Village, tutors kids in her neighborhood…the list goes on.

“Tuesdays are my only nights off – when I do homework,” she said with a delightful laugh. She plans to go to college and hopes to be a chemist or math teacher, or perhaps a wedding planner or interior designer.

Next up in the pageant world for Ferrell will be a pageant this fall, then her formal stepping down next year as Miss Washington High School.

“I hope a lot of girls compete in it because it’s a really great system.”

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