There is new royalty in town.
The first-ever Miss Mullica Hill pageant was held on October 25 at Harbaugh Village.
It started as an idea, then, it quickly became a reality. Now, there are three misses representing Mullica Hill: Miss Mullica Hill, Junior Miss Mullica Hill and Little Miss Mullica Hill.
The pageant was presented by Belle & Beau with A Lada Love and KaySavVi Glamour Barn and Boutique, and each of the owners — Anne Lada and Sheri Foy, respectively — planned the pageant with the help of locals with experience in the pageant industry, such as Mrs. New Jersey USA, Kelsey Rosenberg, who emceed the event.
“We’re always kind of brainstorming to have different events for the community to kind of have a sense of togetherness. But we really wanted to celebrate confidence,” Lada said.
Pageant emcee Kelsey Rosenberg, Mrs. New Jersey USA (left), with the three Miss Mullica Hill winners.
Lada and Foy are business neighbors, and they often collaborate. Lada’s businesses, Belle & Beau and A Lada Love, focus on making young girls feel excited and empowered. In addition to selling clothes and accessories at her boutique, she frequently hosts events for children, and with A Lada Love, she hosts classes and workshops that foster community, emotional well-being, and confidence in young girls.
Foy’s business, KaySavVi Glamour Barn and Boutique, offers beauty services and events for girls.
In the summer, Lada said both women worked together on a confidence class series for young girls over the summer, a program that blended emotional and mental confidence with feeling confident in your body. This series led them to think of turning this kind of program that promotes talent, personality and beauty into a pageant in Mullica Hill, a town that did not have its own pageant series previously.
They had a quick turnaround from the summer to October for the first pageant. However, the women, who directed the pageant, knew they wanted to host it outdoors at Harbaugh Village with great fall weather. The pageant was originally scheduled for October 4, but due to weeks of poor, stormy weather, it was pushed to the final weekend, which ended up being perfect weather for the event.
The pageant was open to girls across Gloucester County ages four to 13. Sixteen girls participated in the pageant, broken into three divisions. There were five judges.
Girls’ competed in three categories. The “This Is Me” category required the girls to wear an outfit that represented them and explain something about themselves. There was a talent category, and there was a formalwear category where they each were interviewed.
The overall winner in each division won the title, as well as a crown, sash, certificate and a teddy bear with a match crown. Additionally, Lada said the winners will have checkpoints throughout the year with her and Foy to stay on top of community involvement and service. She said they want the winners to each pick a charity they would like to highlight and raise awareness for until they pass the crown down next year.
The first-ever Miss Mullica Hill is Charlotte Kolinoski, a 12-year-old from Mickelton.
Junior Miss Mullica Hill is Sutton Cole, an 8-year-old from Mullica Hill.
Little Miss Mullica Hill is Ellianna Leise, a 7-year-old from West Deptford.
“My ultimate goal is for the girls to have fun and have a really wonderful experience. I want them to celebrate themselves,” Lada said.
The first-ever Miss Mullica Hill Pageant winners, from left to right: Charlotte Kolinoski, Miss Mullica Hill; Sutton Cole, Junior Miss Mullica Hill; and Ellianna Leise, Little Miss Mullica Hill.
