Riley Elliott Crowned Miss Davidson County at Annual Fair Pageant
{Photo Credit: Sharon Myers/Davidson Local}
Central Davidson High School has won bragging rights for the next year after Riley Elliott was named the 2025 Miss Davidson County at the Davidson County Agricultural Fair on Thursday.
“I am so surprised and honored,” said Elliott. “This has been one of the best experiences in my life. I appreciate all the people who came out to support me. It has been a wonderful experience,” said Elliott.
She is a senior at Central Davidson High School and plays several sports including basketball, cross country and track. Elliott also represents North Carolina on the D.A.R.E Youth Advocacy Board where she travels the state sharing information on drug and alcohol abuse prevention and education.
"Being able to travel the state to advocate for such an amazing program has really shaped my life,” said Elliott. “What means the most to me is to be able to talk to these children and tell them about the risk that doing drug and drinking alcohol can have on your body. I just want to be a role model to them.”
Elliott has also served as a youth correspondent for Davidson Local since 2021.
Arabella Lynn York of West Davidson High School was named first runner up and Isabella Montesa of Ledford Senior High School was named second runner up.
Other contestants were Natalie Nameth, East Davidson High School; Melina Benitez Aleman, Lexington Senior High School’ Parker Welty, North Davidson Senior High School; Carrie Powell Robson, Oak Grove Senior High School and Katie Hurley, South Davidson High School.
Tommy Black, president of the Davidson County Fair Committee, said the Davidson County Beauty Queen contest is one of the biggest events at the fair every year.
“It's been a tradition for a very long time, and the kids really get the place rocking,” said Black. “It's a fun night and shows a good-natured rivalry between all the schools, but it's just about them showing school pride. It’s loud, but they have a good time.”
As the winner Elliott received $65 and roses from the Kiwanis Club of Lexington, first runner up received $40, and the second runner up received $25
Prior to the beginning of the beauty pageant, 2024 Miss Davidson County Maggie Grace Bodenheimer was recognized. The judges were Judy Wimmer, Arianna Lester and Tyler Allred and the Master of Ceremony was Reynolds Shoaf.
The Davidson County Agricultural Fair is sponsored by the Lexington Kiwanis Club. The proceeds from the yearly fair funds Kamp Kiwanis each summer giving at-risk children the chance to experience summer camp at no cost.
