At the end of a night laced with humility, excitement and fanfare, 18-year-old Lillie Templeton pranced away with the coveted Miss Anson County title and crown.

Throughout the Miss Anson County Pageant, Templeton exuded the perfect combination of confidence and humility. She put on quite an exhibition as she awed the audience with her charisma, and then her depth with a performance of the "Theme from the Pink Panther" on the upright bass as her talent routine.

Templeton was faced with stiff competition from the four other young ladies in contention for the title— Eternia Cox, Courtney Jackson, Tiara Little and Angelica Burch. Each of the young ladies also provided an interesting perspective into what concerns Anson County’s youth (e.g. teen pregnancy, obesity, early childhood development, literacy through art and volunteerism) through their platform issues.

In June, Templeton will represent Anson County in the Miss North Carolina Pageant, an affiliate of the Miss America Pageant.

HOLLA! (Helping Our Loved Ones Learn and Achieve), a local non-profit organization founded to address the low achievement levels in the school system, is the sponsor of the pageant. Officials of the group say the pageant will be used as a direct approach to addressing teenage pregnancy in the community.

“We are confident that Lillie has what it takes to be Miss America, but we will now need the entire community’s support,” said Mary Little, chief financial officer of HOLLA! “Our bottom line for this venture will be a little over $3,000,” she added.

As winner of the pageant, Templeton will receive a $500 scholarship from the local sponsors. She will also receive some wardrobe and travel expense support.

For more information, please call 704-694-3552.