MORVEN — Seven-year-old Komoria E’lise Chambers was crowned Little Miss HOLLA 2016 during the second annual Little Miss HOLLA Pageant on Saturday, Feb. 6.
She is the daughter of Ebone S. Moore and Emmanuel E. Chambers. Her court includes first runner-up Destiny Pickett, second runner-up Za’Kiyah Hixson, Sa’Layah Simons, Siyanna Webster and Azaria Pratt.
Under the theme “Recognizing Our Culture and Keeping It Alive,” HOLLA used the pageant to recognize outstanding women of the past and present, as well as to encourage the young pageant contestants to be outstanding women of the future.
HOLLA recognized six women as “Rocks of Ages” for the present age. This year’s recognition went to the following: educator Dr. Altheria Patton; award-winning journalist Kimberly Harrington; attorney Sophia Gatewood Crawford; Commissioner Vancine Sturdivant; Mayor Minnie Sturdivant; and author Dr. Florita Bell Griffin, recipient of the Zora Neale Hurston Award.
“The recipients of this award are not only making outstanding contributions to our community, but are important to the success of HOLLA and its mission to be an agent of positive change in the community,” said Leon Gatewood, CEO of the organization.
The pageant was organized by Johnie Pettiford and choreographed by Vera Hosley.
“The parents of these children sacrificed a lot for this event; they showed us what parental involvement looks like,” said Pettiford.
The HOLLA Center in Morven will host a spa day for the 2016 contestants on Saturday, March 5, followed by a special dinner on Sunday, March 6 with their families, friends and the 2016 “Rocks of Ages.”
Organizers thanked pageant partners including Ronnie Bennett Photography, Morven Elementary School coach Marion Brown, Quality Florist, Vera Hosley, The Hampton B. Allen Library, Lacy’s, Debra Rosebud, Devin Pettiford and Dr. Florita Bell Griffin and the contestants’ parents.
HOLLA — which stands for Helping Our Loved ones Learn and Achieve — is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations can be sent to: HOLLA, PO Box 88 Wadesboro, NC 28170.
