Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Michelle Coe named Miss Boulder City

First runner-up goes to Dawniel Selvig

Miss Boulder City Pageant

Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Sun

Michelle Coe takes her first walk as Miss Boulder City Saturday during the 2009 Miss Boulder City Pageant in Boulder City.

Updated Sunday, May 31, 2009 | noon

Miss Boulder City

Miss Boulder City 2009 contestants pose for a photograph backstage before the 2009 Miss Boulder City Pageant Saturday. Launch slideshow »

Michelle Coe was named Miss Boulder City in a packed auditorium Saturday night at Boulder City High School.

After Coe was announced the winner, the audience erupted into cheers and applause. A surprised Coe walked to the front of the stage and was crowned by last year's winner, Brittany Duncan. In addition to nabbing the title of Miss Photogenic and a total of $4,500 in scholarship money, Coe also received a trophy, a bouquet of roses and a bright pink Miss Boulder City sash.

"I feel great right now," Coe said, still stunned by the win. "I was so nervous the whole time. I wasn't expecting it at all."

The pageant, hosted by Justin Keogh, featured talent and evening-gown competitions. The 13 contestants kept the audience entertained with musical renditions of "At Last" and "I Dreamed a Dream," as well as slideshow presentations, instrumental solos and dance routines.

Saturday night concluded a competition that began in February. While the event accounted for 45 percent of the contestants' overall score, the high-school age contestants had previously submitted applications and essays. All participated in fund-raising activities for the pageant.

First runner-up went to Dawniel Selvig, a junior at Boulder City High School, who also appeared stunned when her name was called. After Duncan handed Sevig her prizes on stage, she smiled and wiped tears from her eyes.

"I still haven't even comprehended it yet," Selvig said afterward. "It feels amazing. I never thought I'd ever do this."

Director Dawn Green said most of the contestants have a 4.0 grade point average, and many participate in sports, school clubs and non-profit organizations.

Poppy Helgren, who judged the pageant in 2008, complimented the contestants for their long list of achievements.

"They did a great job. There's a lot of talent here," she said. "I even think it was better than last year's. (Coe's) talent, of course, was great, but she was just beautiful in her gown."

Helgren added: "I wasn't surprised she got Most Photogenic."

Neither was Michelle Coe's mother, Karen Coe, though she quickly dismissed the idea that she expected her daughter to win Miss Boulder City.

"I had heard people say she was going to get Miss Photogenic, and she does take good pictures, but I did not expect this at all," Karen Coe said. "But we're very proud. She's worked really hard for this. Michelle has her own goals and she goes after them."

The new Miss Boulder City plans to attend the University of Arizona-Tucson to study entrepreneurship in the fall. She wants to become a chef and open her own restaurant someday.

After the pageant, while Michelle Coe posed for pictures next to fellow contestants and hugged friends and family, her father, Harold Coe, stood beaming on the side with a video camera close at hand.

"We're very proud," he echoed.

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