COLUSA, CA (MPG) – Alllie Wills dazzled the judges last Thursday when she topped six other contestants vying for the title of Miss Colusa County.
Wills was crowned June 8, opening night of the 85th Colusa County Fair by outgoing Miss Colusa County Allison Traynham, who reigned over the exposition and represented her home county at other fairs and community events since 2023.
Wills, 16, is the daughter of Jason and Kristen Wills, of Maxwell. She is a junior at Maxwell High School, where she has participated in volleyball, soccer, softball, FFA, and FBLA. She plans to obtain a degree in nursing after she graduates in 2025 with the goal of becoming a flight nurse on a helicopter ambulance.
Wills also hopes to travel the world helping others. Her hobbies include sports, pigs, and hanging out with family and friends.
Against a backdrop reflecting the fair’s theme of Star Spangled Summer, Wills wore a deep purple gown and a snappy tennis dress, after pageant coordinators ditched the longstanding swimsuit portion of the competition for athletic wear.
Brenden Farrell, who served his second year as master of ceremonies, following the retirement of longtime announcer Jim Lemos, said pageant judges rely on both on-stage and pre-contest evaluations to make their decision.
Wills, along with Abigail Cross, Tessa Edwards, Emma Ellebracht, Taylor Kirby, Audrey Washburn, and Valerie Zuniga were judged behind the scenes in a personal interview, which took place days prior.
The personal interview is worth 40 out of 150 points, placing an emphasis on maturity, individuality, personal standards, and future goals. Academic achievement and extracurricular activities count for 25 points; community involvement is worth 25 points; commitment to the program, which measures attendance, attitude, and interaction with the other contestants during the rehearsal season, is worth 10 points.
Spectators got to see their on-stage personality and communication skills, which count for 35 points; and their poise and confidence, which counts for 15 points.
The Stagehands Theater directs and produces the competition.
For her win, Wills will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Shifflett Scholarship Foundation. Scholarships were introduced to the Miss Colusa County pageant in 1999 by Joy Shifflett, past president of the 44th District Agriculture Association, in memory of her late husband Chester. The Shifflett family has continued the tradition since Joy’s death in 2014.
Wills also received a $300 scholarship from the Rotary Club of Colusa, which the club introduced this year.
Audrey Washburn was crowned first runner-up.
Washburn is the 17-year-old daughter of Phil and Amy Washburn, of Arbuckle. For her win, Washburn, who plans to become an equine veterinarian, received a $500 scholarship from the Shiflett Scholarship Foundation and a $200 scholarship from the Rotary Club of Colusa. Washburn will be a senior next year at Pierce High School.
Abigail Cross was chosen Miss Congeniality by the contestants for being the friendliest and most helpful in the pageant.
For her win, Cross, 16, the daughter of Dennis and Radene Cross, of Colusa, will receive a $100 scholarship from the Rotary Club of Colusa.
Cross, 16, will be a junior at Colusa High School in the fall.
The 2024 Miss Colusa County Pageant celebrated its 70h year with a reunion of past title holders, including a mother and daughter, sisters, and cousins.
The pageant dates to 1954 when Carol Goforth, of Willilams, won the first crown, making her and all who came after her eligible to run for Miss California.
Arlene Anania, Miss Colusa County 1966, returned to the stage with about two dozen other past winners, including Leslie Mendenhall, Miss Colusa County 1968; and Debbie Vaughn, Miss Colusa County 1969.
Most of the former royalty in attendance at the reunion were crowned post 1980 and remain active in the community. Jyl (Perry) Torrens, of Stardust Dance, was crowned Miss Colusa County in 1995. She and her sister, Nina (Perry) Rudiger, Miss Colusa County 1999, direct the Mini Miss Pageant each year at the Colusa County Fair. Rudiger’s daughter, Gia, won the Mini Miss crown in 2023.
Current Fair Board member Jolyn (Wells) Campbell was crowned Miss Colusa County in 2001. Her sister, Summer (Wells) Shadley won the Miss Colusa County title in 2003. Shadley is the mother of 2024 Mini Miss first runner-up, Rachel Shadley, who was crowned on June 5.
All areas of Colusa County have been represented over the past 70 years.
Stagehands has been directing the pageant for the past 27 years.