A hometown girl who wants to be an ambassador for her town was crowned as Miss Ripley Fourth of July 2009 at the Ripley High School Auditorium Saturday night.

Kelsey Deanne Waybright, daughter of Ron and Connie Waybright of Ripley, is the new queen of the Fourth and will reign over the gala celebration in the County Seat Saturday as well as getting to live her dream to be an ambassador for Ripley over the next year.

Waybright, 20, is a junior-to-be at Marshall University, majoring in business administration, although she has completed enough hours to be a senior. She plans to attend beauty school after graduation and wants to own her own beauty salon and spa. She is also a member of the Thundering Herd cheerleading squad, after serving as a four-year varsity cheerleader for her Ripley Vikings.

“Cheering in college is so different,” she said. “It’s coed, and it was a big adjustment going from being a senior back to being a freshman.

“I haven’t done so many pageants,” Waybright added with a smile, “but I’m very happy and very honored to be Miss Ripley Fourth of July and represent my community. I’m excited about reigning over my hometown’s celebration. That really means a lot to me.”

As a part of her win, Waybright received a $1,200 gift basket and will receive $1,000 toward her education at the end of her reign next year, as Miss Ripley Fourth of July 2008 Shayla Miller did Saturday night.

The new queen was crowned from among 10 contestants. Whitney Michelle Johnson, daughter of David and Polla of Ravenswood, was named First Runner-Up and Miss Photogenic. Stephanie Lea McComas, 19, daughter of Larry and Teresa McComas of Ripley, was Second Runner-Up. Satin Liela Koren Blackwell, 17, daughter of Sheila Harrison of Kenna, was named Miss Congeniality.

Other finalists included Cassie Walker, Daron Clark and Sharon-Elizabeth Brooke Myers.

In on-stage interviews, Waybright said her mother had influenced her to be a strong woman. Cassie Walker brought laughter to the crowd of spectators when she answered an on-stage question that one of the best advantages to being woman is cheaper insurance. Another humorous moment came when Stephanie McComas said, when asked about making a choice between a boyfriend and winning the pageant title, that the title lasts just a year and maybe the boyfriend would take her back afterward.

In preliminary pageants, Taylor Dawn Hatcher was crowned Little Miss Firecracker with Jamila Allie Kay Foster as first runner-up and Hope Dawn Price as second runner-up. Myranda Marie Murphy was crowned Junior Miss Firecracker with Alejandra Brooke Hancock as first runner-up and Katie Marie Bailey as second runner-up. Brittani Nikole Hancock was crowned Teen Miss Firecracker with Berkeley Clark as first runner-up and Brandi Lee Snyder as second runner-up.

Dee Rhodes served as master of ceremonies for the evening with entertainment by Jessica King and Rhodes and special presentations to Shayla Miller by Mayor Carolyn Rader and pageant director Karen King.