The 55th Annual Swamp Cabbage Queen Pageant to crown the 2022 Queen, Princess, Junior Miss and Little Miss was held at the LaBelle High School Auditorium Jan 29. The audience was packed with excited family and friends who came to cheer on their favorite contestant.

The festival shared a video of the contest on Youtube.

Myra Johnson and 2022 Miss United World and former Swamp Cabbage Queen Abby Lynn Arnold were this year’s emcees and they definitely kept the audience entertained as the pageant rocked along. Myra even took the stage in Abby’s Miss United World crown much to the audience’s delight!

This year’s theme was Favorite Book Characters and the costumes the girls chose were outstanding. There were fairy tale princesses, historical women of power and even cute animals and storybook characters.

During the opening dance number to “Who Wrote the Book,” each of the 18 contestants introduced themselves and their pageant sponsors in costume before presenting them individually.

The pageant consisted of costume, talent, evening gown competitions and on-stage questions. The queen contestants also had a 10-minute personal interview with the judges prior to the pageant.

Each beautiful contestant in their elegant evening gown ended their walk across stage at the emcees podium to answer their on-stage questions.

The audience was asked to vote during intermission for the People’s Choice Award. Winning this award was Ryley Bourdeau.

The following awards were also given out:

• The Top Ad sales went to Charity Masterson and Ticket Sales Reese Tyson.

• The contestants themselves vote for Miss Congeniality in each division except this year all girls voted for Princess since there were only 2. The girls receiving this award were: Hailey Prince for the Queen contestants and Charity Masterson for Princess, Makayela Hudson for Little Miss, and Hailee Cooper Jr. Miss.

• Another prestigious award given out was for Most Photogenic. Receiving this award was Grace Ryan - Queen, Carli Spencer – Princess, Hailee Cooper – Junior Miss and Reina Tyson – Little Miss.

The talent portion of the show is always a highlight and this year’s contestants were amazing. There was a variety of singing, dancing, tumbling, cloggers, skits, and even a ventriloquist! The Most Talented Awards went to Queen Contestant Emyllee Hull who sang “These Boots are Made For Walking,” by Nancy Sinatra and ended in a cute dance. Princess winner Carli Spencer took us back in time with her energetic clogging routine to a mix of 80’s – 90’s favorites, Junior Miss winner Hailee Cooper performed sign language to “I can

Only Imagine” and Little Miss Ventriloquist Reina Tyson wowed the audience and judges with her puppet friend Katy as she performed her own comedy routine.

With the momentum and excitement built, it was on to the big finale - the crowning of the Swamp Cabbage Queen, Princess, Jr, Miss and Little Miss and their courts. Sophia Yzaguirre was crowned 2022 Little Miss Swamp Cabbage, Reina Tyson was First Runner-Up and Aubrey Howard Second Runner-Up, with the Court consisting of Emily Short, Aubree Penuel, Makayela Hudson and Shelby Zilen.

The 2022 Jr. Miss Swamp Cabbage is Hailee Cooper, First Runner Up Bre’Nay Beckworth, Second Runner Up Reese Tyson and their court Rebecca Howard and Alana Ross.

2022 Princess is Carli Spencer and First Runner Up Charity Masterson.

The 55th Annual Swamp Cabbage Queen is Grace Ryan, First Runner Up Ryley Bourdeau, Second Runner Up Hailey Prince and Most Talented Emyllee Hull.

With all the beauty, poise, personality, intelligence and talent of everyone shining through, this was truly one of the best pageant presentations!

The Swamp Cabbage Festival is held each year on the last full weekend in February.