Camellia Queen crowned
BY BRUCE BRANUM
The Greenville Standard
The Greenville Camellia Society (GCS) held their first Camellia Queen Pageant on Saturday evening, Jan. 11, at the Greenville High School auditorium.
The society made contact with all the schools of Butler County to invite young ladies to enter and participate in the pageant. In all, there were seven contestants.
Karya Jalani Likely was crowned the 2025 Camellia Queen and received a $1,000 award. Emilee Myrick was named Runner Up and received a $500 award.
Anyah Cobb, Calie Little, Rakiya Peterson, Jakahrie Robinson, and Camryn Lanett Stinson each received an award of $250.
Each contestant competed for honors in the categories of poise and personality and by answering questions about the history of “The Camellia City” and all received a trophy and an embroidered sash,
They will serve as Ambassadors for the society for one year at special events and programs, including the Greenville Camellia Show Feb. 15-16.
Pageant Director Paula Sexton congratulated each of the contestants who participated in this year’s pageant. “Being in a pageant is a challenging experience and each of these young ladies stepped up and did a great job.”
An experienced pageant director, Sexton was in charge of Andalusia’s Miss Memolusia Pageant for several years and helped coach one of her students to become Covington County’s Junior Miss.
Mistresses of Ceremony were GCS President Jan Newton and Brenda Fahey. “We were fortunate to have the support of so many people in producing our first Camellia Queen Pageant, especially our fantastic panel of judges.” GCS President Jan Newton said. “We sincerely thank each one for coming to Greenville to participate in our event.”
Judges for the pageant were Belle Airey, Anne Collins and Kim L. Davis.
Airey was the American Camellia Society’s First Camellia Queen and attended last year’s Greenville Camellia Show as a special guest.
She is a student at the University of Alabama majoring in chemical engineering with a minor in biochemistry.
Collins is a native of Greenville, a floral designer and a National Garden Club accredited judge. She is a member of three garden clubs, the Pensacola Camellia Club and the American Camellia Society.
Davis is a former TV news anchor and reporter and was the first Black female news anchor in Montgomery. She is the President of KIMANDCOMPANY Communications, a PR, Media, Governmental Affairs and Business Development Company in Montgomery.
Newton stated, “Part of GCS’s mission is to promote interest in and knowledge of our state flower, the Camellia Japonica. We are delighted that the Camellia Queen and her Court will be our Society’s Ambassadors in the coming year, and very happy to have found a group of young people to pass our camellia knowledge on to.”
Newton encourages everyone to attend the Greenville Camellia Show and take the opportunity to meet this group of outstanding Butler County young women.
