Jennifer Fitch Feb 24, 2018
The crowning of Miss Washington County and Miss Western Maryland capped a pageant full of laughter, sequins and a few tears Saturday at Hagerstown Community College’s Kepler Center for the Performing Arts.
Five judges named C’yana Denby as 2018 Miss Washington County and Caitlyn Stupi as 2018 Miss Western Maryland.
In the Outstanding Teen competition, the winners were Miss Washington County Madeleine Brown and Miss Western Maryland Eve Stanley.
“From the beginning, I knew I always wanted to compete in the Miss America organization,” said Stupi, 19, of Westminster, Md.
Stupi, the daughter of Brian and Lynette Stupi, is a junior at Liberty University in Virginia.
Denby, 20, of Ellicott City, Md., wanted to pursue scholarships as she transfers from Howard County Community College to University of Maryland, College Park. She is new to pageant competitions.
Denby struggled with her confidence in her first two pageants. Then, she changed her mind-set.
“The only person I’m competing against is myself,” said Denby, the daughter of Mary Denby.
Denby and Stupi, who performed dance and on cello, respectively, for the talent portion, will be among the Miss Maryland contestants in June.
Brown and Stanley, both of Hagerstown, attend Barbara Ingram School of the Arts. Brown tap danced as her talent, while Stanley performed a modern-style dance.
Some $7,000 in scholarships was awarded Saturday.
The scholarship pageant recognized 30-year volunteer Rich Gaver with a proclamation from the Washington County Board of Commissioners.
