Sarah Stevens Crowned Miss Odyssey

Beneath the bright theater lights, amidst the rustle of evening gowns, and among 61 contestants, Sarah Stevens was crowned the winner of the 30th annual Miss Odyssey Pageant held on Saturday.

Stevens is a Lassiter senior and cheerleader.

The Miss Odyssey Pageant is much more than a beauty pageant. It is a fundraiser organized by the cheerleaders. Contestants paid a $65 entry fee. Money was also raised in other creative ways, such as the audience paying $1.00 per vote for a favorite contestant in the People’s Choice Award.

"A percentage of the profits are given to the Ray-Thomas food bank. There is an equal amount of $50 gift cards given to needy Lassiter families," Pageant director Stacey Micheli told Northeast Cobb Patch in a statement.

Contestants were judged on beauty, poise, and presentation. Contestants appeared twice; first in an introduction segment dressed in sportswear and second in formal attire while biography information was read. Each contestant was asked a brief interview question.

Prizes were awarded to Miss Odyssey, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Runners-up, Miss Congeniality, Most Photogenic and People’s Choice Award. Miss Odyssey will be featured at next year’s Homecoming Parade. There was also a selection of Class Beauties from each grade level: freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior.

Prizes for 2011 include:

• $500 scholarship and Star for the Day Photo Shoot including professional stylist and make-up artist awarded to Miss Odyssey
• Free teeth whitening kit for every participant
• Discounted tanning package for every participant
• Spa gift certificate for every participant

Photograph of Stevens courtesy of ET Images. ET Images provides photography services in the Marietta community including senior portraits, child and family portraits, as well as youth sports.