Myrtle Beach area News

2010 Miss Sun Fun Pageant Winners Announced

Jenny Price has been crowned 2010 Miss Sun Fun®, and Hillary Bradshaw, 2010 Miss Sun Fun Teen®. The pageant was held June 6 at the Myrtle Beach High School auditorium in conjunction with the 58th annual Sun Fun Festival. This year’s pageant theme was “Jewels of the Sea.”

Price, of Clover, is a 21-year-old junior at the College of Charleston and a recipient of a LIFE scholarship. Her ambition upon graduation is to move to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.

Price and her family spent their summers in Myrtle Beach. “The beaches of South Carolina are among the most beautiful in the world,” Price said. “I have such an appreciation for the Grand Strand and find it an honor to represent Myrtle Beach.”

Bradshaw, of Boiling Springs, is a 17-year-old graduate of Boiling Springs High School and Miss Boiling Springs High School 2009. She plans to attend the University of Alabama in the fall and obtain a degree in pre-dental studies. Bradshaw is actively involved with Special Olympics and is an avid volunteer. “I want to have a positive impact on others,” Bradshaw said. “Winning Miss Sun Fun Teen gives me the honor and responsibility to represent everything I love about South Carolina.”

Pageant winners will compete, expenses paid, in the Miss South Carolina USA and Miss South Carolina Teen USA pageants Nov. 20-21 in North Charleston. Miss Sun Fun and Miss Sun Fun Teen also will represent the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, its member businesses and the Grand Strand throughout their reigns, participating in festivals, promotional trips and local events.

Other Miss Sun Fun winners were Kathleen Benton of Myrtle Beach, first runner-up; Megan Stoffel of Ridgeland, second runner-up; Price, Miss Congeniality; and Stoffel, Miss Photogenic.

Other Miss Sun Fun Teen winners were Courtney Huggins of Myrtle Beach, first runner-up; Haleigh Payne of Andrews, second runner-up; Christy Green of Bethune, Teen Congeniality; and Bradshaw, Teen Photogenic.

The 36 contestants (18, Miss; 18, Teen) competed in three equally weighted categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview. Important qualities include poise, personality, beauty of face and figure and the ability to speak articulately about the Grand Strand area.

“This year’s Miss Sun Fun and Miss Sun Fun Teen pageant featured an exceptional field of contestants,” said Paula Miles, pageant director and director of the Miss South Carolina USA/Teen USA pageant.

An impressive panel of professionals was involved in the production of the event. Judges came to Myrtle Beach from around the country, and RPM Productions’ veteran choreographer Dr. Donald Campbell produced the show. Hosting the pageants were Miss South Carolina USA 2009 Stephanie Smith and Campbell. Also in attendance were reigning queens 2009 Miss Sun Fun Leah Hickman and 2009 Miss Sun Fun Teen Courtney Sellers.

The Sun Fun Festival began modestly in June 1951, when a handful of regional beauty queens, riding in Nash Ramblers, arrived in Myrtle Beach to add some luster to the 14 events that comprised the inaugural festival. Fifty-eight years later, the festival has earned the distinction of being one of the largest annual festivals in the Carolinas.

For more information about the pageants, call Miles at (803) 648-6220.

For more information about the Sun Fun Festival, visit SunFunFestival.com or call (843) 626-7444/(800) 356-3016.

The Grand Strand’s Celebration of Summer begins with the Sun Fun Festival June 5-6 and ends with the Beach, Boogie & BBQ Festival Sept. 4-5. The free, family-friendly festivities offer a great lineup of live entertainment, national acts, events and much more in Myrtle Beach, S.C., America’s top beach and family destination.