2016 Miss Wee Pop & Court (left to right): 3rd Runner-Up Lillian Oswald, 1st Runner-Up Kayann Nelson, Miss Wee Pop 2016 Savannah Guadarrama, and 2nd Runner-Up Addison Geiser.
From a field of 20 contestants, Savannah Guadarrama was named and Miss Wee Pop 2016 during competition held Saturday morning at River Valley High School.
Three-year old Guadarrama is the daughter of Shaylah Monnette and Allen Guadarrama of Marion. She also won her age division in Formalwear, as well as overall honors in Costume and Swimwear.
First Runner-Up to Miss Wee Pop is Kayann Nelson, the three-year-old daughter of Bobbie and Elisha Nelson of Marion. She won her age division in Costume and Swimwear.
Addison Geiser captured Second Runner-Up honors. The four-year-old is the daughter of Ryan and Amber Geiser of Hilliard, and also won her age division in Formalwear and Costumes.
Taking Third Runner-Up was Lillian Oswald, the four-year-old daughter of Owen and Alicia Oswald of Marion. She was the overall winner in Formalwear.
The 2016 Wee Pops will be featured on the Main Stage of the Marion Popcorn Festival. They will also ride in the Festival’s Popcorn Parade, and represent the Marion Popcorn Festival at various parades and events throughout the state.
Categories for Formalwear, Costume with a popcorn theme, and Swimwear with a popcorn theme were divided into three age groups: two years, three years, and four and five years. The winners of these divisions, order of age, were:
• Formal Wear:
Age 2: Reagan Lechleitner
Age 3: Savannah Guadarrama
Age 4: Addison Geiser
Age 5: Olivia Tackett
Overall: Lillian Oswald
• Costumes:
Age 2: Reagan Lechleitner
Age 3: Kayann Nelson
Age 4: Addison Geiser
Age 5: Cheyenne Jordan
Overall: Savannah Guadarrama
• Swimwear:
Age 2: Shyanna McCarthy
Age 3: Kayann Nelson
Age 4: Kharma Fletcher
Age 5: Tessa Sias
Overall: Savannah Guadarrama
Receiving honorable mention category awards were: Evelyn Kerr, Izabella Newman, Makinzee McBeth, Gracie Walter, Brielle Somerlot, Kinslee Miller, Zivah Berry, Annadaysia Clark, Maddisyn Meade, and Kytanna Clark.
A separate photogenic contest was held in conjunction with the main pageant, and the results of this event had no bearing on the outcome of the Wee Pop Pageant. Contestants were allowed to enter one or both events. Photogenic awards went to:
Age 2: Shyanna McCarthy
Age 3: Savannah Guadarrama
Age 4: Addison Geiser
Age 5: Olivia Tackett
Overall: Izabella Newman
Businesses sponsoring the event and many of the Wee Pop gifts and awards were: Dollfin Music, Sound and Production, Terrie’s Photography Studio, Marion Auto Sales, Georgia Mills Carpet, Ready-To-Rent, Precision Auto, Goldrush Jewelers, Applebee’s, and Pop’d Sansations Gourmet Shoppe.
Wee Pop Directors Rena Cranmer and Kari Boles were happy with the pageant. “I was nervous as a first-time director,” said Cranmer, “but everything came to together and went well.” Boles echoed Cranmer and said, “It would have been tough being a judge … the kids and their parents put a lot into it … but you could tell they were having fun with the popcorn/circus theme.”
The 2016 dates of the Marion Popcorn Festival are September 8, 9 and 10. Main stage entertainment includes Thursday, September 8’s Bike Nite featuring Rock Brigade – The Def Leppard Experience at 8:30 p.m., country star Kellie Pickler on Friday, September 9, and heavy metal/rock band Skid Row set for Saturday, September 10. All headline performances begin at 8:30 p.m. are free of charge to Festival attendees. A limited number of Kernel sponsorship seats are available for any of the main stage performances by calling 740-387-FEST.
Other events include Terry Lee Goffee, The “Ultimate” Johnny Cash Tribute, at the historic Marion Palace Theatre at 2:00 p.m. on September 8, the Popcorn Parade with over 300 units, a popcorn cooking contest, a fine art show, crafts, Popcorn 5000 5K run/walk, Popcorn 100 bike tour, Community Showcase stage, Marion’s Hometown Talent stage, Poppin’ Party stage, and much more.
For more information, visit our web site at www.popcornfestival.com, “Like” The Marion Popcorn Festival on Facebook, or call 740-387-FEST. The Marion Popcorn Festival is sponsored in part by the City of Marion.
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