Lake Shore Middle recently hosted the third annual Miss Lake Shore Middle School Pageant, an opportunity for 24 young ladies to compete to become newly crowned royalty in the River City.  

Founded by Assistant Principal and Director Tamara Williams as a means to raise money for the school and build deeper relationships with the students, the Miss Lake Shore Pageant is the largest middle school pageant in Jacksonville. Since its existence, the pageant has raised more than $30,000 dollars for the school.  

“Not only has this pageant allowed me to build relationships with students, it has also allowed me to raise a substantial amount of money for my school during a time when resources are scarce,” said Williams. “I am thankful for the three teachers who serve on the Miss Lake Shore Pageant Board, Marie Mummey, Sarah Tierney and Yaritaz Cardona, and for their donation of their time and talent throughout the course of the pageant. I am most grateful for my Principal, Ronda Cotter, for the wonderful opportunity she has given me with this pageant to both inspire my students as well as leave a legacy behind!”  

This year’s pageant theme was ‘I Want to Be R.I.C.H.’ (Resilient, Inspiring, Caring, Humanitarian). During the opening performance, contestants introduced themselves and gave the name of an organization that they would donate a million dollars to, if given the opportunity.  

During the pageant, the contestants learned what it meant to be a true queen by giving. Before the winners were crowned by the reigning Miss Northeast Florida, Kali Kearney, the contestants presented a life-size check to an organization that knows exactly what it means to give - - The United Way.  

“Although there was only one queen per grade level crowned that evening, all the contestants went home a little more R.I.C.H. - resilient, inspiring, caring, and a humanitarian - because they gave,” said Williams.  

The winners were sixth-grader Destiny Miller “Miss Maroon,” seventh-grader Sarah Stanley “Miss Platinum,” and eighth-grader Leasia Smith “Miss Lake Shore.”