Pageant Press: Miss Mansfield Pageant: Three crowned Saturday night

CLICK HERE for a Miss competition photos from Daniel Melograna and here for Teen. Timothy Russell will have his shots on the Miss Mansfield website soon.

Miss Mansfield Pageant: Three crowned Saturday Night

Mansfield News Journal

By Lou Whitmir

MANSFIELD -- Heather Wells, a vibrant dancer from Howland, and Amber Bussa, a petite singer from Wheelersburg, are both on their way to the Miss Ohio stage this summer at the Renaissance Theatre.

Crestview High School junior Chelsi Howman was also named Miss Mansfield Outstanding Teen after a rousing dance routine to "Let's Get Loud" at Mansfield Senior High School.

Wells was crowned Miss Mansfield, besting 14 contestants by dancing her way across the stage to "Baby I'm A Star" from the "Purple Rain" soundtrack.

Pageant-goers were treated to more than three hours of entertainment and favorite holiday songs performed by featured performers Miss Ohio Roberta Camp Albert and outgoing Miss Mansfield Nanciann Strosnider.

Wells is a junior at Kent State University. Her platform is youth development through 4-H. She wants to obtain a degree in broadcast journalism and become a news anchorwoman.

Bussa, crowned Miss North Central Ohio, attends The Ohio State University and plans to pursue a career as a nutritionist after graduation. She sang the Broadway song "Popular."

Strosnider, in an emotional farewell speech, said her reign was the best year of her life as she held a Miss America coloring book she received at age 4, when it cost 59 cents.

During the evening's awards, Lexington's Drena McCurdy was named Volunteer of the Year. McCurdy is director of the Miss Ohio Outstanding Teen Program and a member of the Miss Ohio Board. She and members of her family assists Laura Russell, director the two preliminary pageants, each year to make the December pageant a success.

Little Miss Snowflake winners were Isabella Willacker, Sofie Swartzmiller and Cady Watkins.

lwhitmire@nncogannett.com 419-521-7223