The 2021 Miss Buford Middle School pageant took place Thursday, Jan. 28, at the Buford Fine Arts Center. This year, 34 contestants, ranging from sixth through eighth grade, participated in the exciting event.
The Miss BMS pageant is organized each year by the eighth-grade teachers, and all proceeds from the pageant go directly to the eighth-grade team to spend on instructional materials in the classrooms and general supplies. In the past, the teachers have used the money to purchase class sets of novels and to buy supplies for science experiments.
The reigning 2019 Miss BMS, Audrey Getz — a current ninth grader at Buford High School — was in attendance to crown and congratulate this year’s winners.
The new 2020 Miss BMS is seventh-grader Joscelyn Mandall. Joscelyn is the daughter of Josh and Jennifer Mandall. Her accomplishments include being a competitive cheerleader, playing soccer and dancing. She also wrote and published a book, “The Proudest Olive,” which is a story of a young girl who is bullied at school and how she navigates through the challenge and overcomes it.
The runners-up from the Miss BMS pageant are:
• First runner-up: Izzy Skinner, eighth grade
• Second runner-up: Holly Madsen, seventh grade
• Third runner-up: Abigail Richardson, sixth grade
• Fourth runner-up: Caroline Humphrey, eighth grade
Alongside Miss BMS, two other winners are also crowned as part of the pageant — Miss Spirit of BMS and the winner of the People’s Choice Award.
This year’s Miss Spirit of BMS is Izzy Skinner, an eighth-grade student and the daughter of Chad and Bonnie Skinner. Izzy Skinner has been on the straight A honor roll, received the citizenship award, is a member of the Future Business Leaders of America and is on the BMS soccer team. Izzy received the title of Miss Spirit of BMS by being selected by the BMS faculty and staff as well as the contestants themselves; this award goes to someone who is respectful to adults and peers, willing to help others, goes above and beyond the traditional expectations of classroom behavior and inspires and supports other students.
The People’s Choice Award is voted on by family and friends of the contestants through donations. The young lady with the most donations is crowned the winner. This year’s People’s Choice Award winner is Hallie Walsh, a sixth-grade student and daughter of HB and Tami Walsh.
Congratulations, ladies! Keep up the great work!
— Emily Hammond
