Winners in the county’s first Crowns for a Cure Beauty Pageant were crowned Saturday at the Prentiss Community Center.

One-year-old Aubrey Genelizabeth Sherman received the crown for her age division, Miles Dampeer was crowned Mr. Crowns for a Cure and Abriana Murphy was crowned Miss Crowns for a Cure.

Aubrey Sherman is the daughter of Greg and Sarah Sherman of Prentiss. Her ambition is to, “win my first pageant and one day become Miss America.” Aubrey enjoys watching sports with her daddy, feeding her baby calves, helping mommy around the house. She also likes to be read to and playing with her puppy Lola. Her favorite song is A Thousand Years by Christina Perry and her favorite shows are Dora the Explorer and Bubble Guppies.

Sherman competed in the pageant in memory of her great-grandfather Robert Eugene Bass. She also received awards for best hair, smile, and prettiest eyes.

Miles Dampeer is the 4-year-old son of Bathsheba and Karell Dampeer of Bassfield. This young man’s ambition is to go to school and become a doctor. His hobbies are dancing and singing and his favorite song is My God is Awesome. His favorite TV show is Sponge Bob.

Dampeer competed in the pageant in memory of his great grandmother, Sharnee McReynolds.

4-year old Abriana Murphy is the daughter of Crystal McLeod of Carson. She has a passion to be a teacher and likes to read and color. Her favorite song is “I need a Little More Jesus and her favorite TV show is Dora the Explorer.

Winners of the pageant are invited to compete in the State Relay for Life Pageant on August 2, 2014 at Sumrall High School PAC.

Judges for the event were Kerri Mauldin and Stacy Clark both of Sumrall.

Mauldin was crowned the Mrs. Liberty for South Mississippi. She is a member of the Women’s Advisory Council, President of Hattiesburg Leadership Team and Vice President of the Legacy Booster Club. She is also an active member of the Sumrall Development Planning Foundation Committee and has been a volunteer for the American Cancer Society for the past 12 years.

Clark, a native of Pennsylvania has called Mississippi her home for the last 21 years. She hs been a volunteer for the American Cancer Society serving on local Relay for Life teams as well as an Emcee for many local Crowns for a Cure pageants. She volunteers in honor of her mother, Margaret, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995 and has recently resumed her battle with the disease when it spread to her lungs.

Contestants were judged on presentation, appearance and dress.

All proceeds from the pageant will go to the American Cancer Society who continues to be on the battlefront seeking a cure, caring for its victims and educating the public.

“We all enjoyed the experience,” stated JDC Relay for Life Committee member Terri Lee, “and we hope to have more participation for our next pageant.”