By Ryan Berry

DailyAdvocate.com

VERSAILLES – Nine girls competed during the “world’s largest chicken barbecue” for the title of Miss Chick during the annual Poultry Days Festival in Versailles on June 10. After personal interviews on Friday and the public portion on Saturday afternoon where the contestants answered two rounds of questions, a winner could not be found. Contest officials were forced to scramble to break a tie for one of the top three positions. The top five finalists were named and required to answer a final question.

After the votes were tabulated, Isabel Rawlins was crowned 2023 Miss Chick. Rawlins, a recent Versailles High School graduate, won in her first year of competing. “This is my first year,” she said. “I thought that I had enough confidence in myself this year. It took me a while to get here. I’ve had a very successful two years and I thought that if I’m going to do it, now’s the time and I just went for it.”

Rawlins said her three top activities in high school were Teen Leadership, French Club and theatre. Although she is a performer, she confessed that competing for Miss Chick was scary. “It takes a lot to stand up here and answer scary questions in front of everybody that I know and love. It’s scary. I’m used to performing, but when I get up here, I’m not performing, I’m just me. It’s hard whenever you’re not putting on act. This year, I finally got enough willpower and confidence to make it happen.”

The future Wright State Raider will be heading to the campus in the fall to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre while also working to achieve licensing as an EMT and firefighter. As for what she hopes to accomplish over the next year as Miss Chick, “This is all new to me, but I’m really hoping we can take the court and be more hands on in the community this year. I’d love to get into the nursing homes and maybe the summer reading programs. I worked with special needs kids in high school, and I’d love to see if we can set up with them and bring them out into the community. I’d love to be just more in it.”

Joining Rawlings on the Poultry Days Miss Chick court are Katelyn Conway, first runner-up, and Kira Cheadle, second runner-up. Conway went to Greenville High School and participated in soccer, Spanish Club and theatre. Cheadle went to Versailles High School and participated in the musical, cheer and color guard.

Rounding out the top five were Elizabeth Brewer and Isabella Gully.

Additional contestants were Alexandria Gaerke, Taylor Grilliot, Hannah Brooks and Sophia Aultman.

Judges for the personal interview portion of the contest were Joyce Schwartz, Minster Oktoberfest, Beth Simons, former Miss Chick chairperson and Eric “Calvin” Rose, Ultimate Frisbee representative. Rose returned to assist in judging the onstage interviews along with Kristin Adkins, of Physical Therapy 212, and Dereck Smith, the 2022 Poultry Days chairman.

To contact Daily Advocate Editor Ryan Berry, email [email protected].