Miss Hamilton History
Origin
Organization
Organization
The Miss Hamilton Pageant was established in 1974 as a project by a group of dedicated women who were members of several local organizations. The Coterie Club, Cosmopolitan Club, and Twentieth Century Club served as the original sponsors. Linda Chadwick Tringas was named the first director. Nineteen young women entered the stage to the song, "More." Talent included vocal performance, instrumental, and piano arrangements, string art, twirling, wardrobe display, and monologue. The first Miss Hamilton was Sandra Tice, a charismatic contestant that won the judges over with her comedic performance of Edith Ann, made popular by Lily Tomlin on Rowen & Martin's Laugh-In. Our first Miss Hamilton was awarded $100 and ten Marion County businesses furnished her Miss Alabama Wardrobe.
Organization
Organization
Organization
Miss Hamilton originated as a closed pageant, accepting eligible contestants that lived, worked, or attended school in Hamilton. It remained a closed pageant for twenty years, from 1974 to 1993. No pageant was held from 1994 to 2004. The Miss Hamilton Pageant resumed in 2005 as an open pageant, attracting young women from around the state. In 2012, the Miss Hamilton Pageant Board voted to, once again, become a closed pageant exclusively for young women from Hamilton. In 2015, entry was extended to all eligible women in Marion County. In 2016, the pageant added Hamilton's Outstanding Teen, an official preliminary to Alabama's Outstanding Teen (now Miss Alabama's Teen). Once again, in 2019, the competition was opened to young women throughout the State of Alabama.
Legacy
Legacy
Legacy
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A number of former Miss Hamilton titleholders continue to engage with the organization. Miss Hamilton 1974 Sandra Tice Seals continues to serve as a Miss Alabama "Pageant Mom" and hasn't missed a Miss Alabama competition in 50 years. Miss Hamilton 1986 RaJane Chadwick Johnson serves as preliminary judge. Miss Hamilton 1987 Amanda Clement Tice, recently served as Miss Hamilton Director, having been a board member for over ten years. Miss Hamilton 2012 Sarai Ingle is a Miss Alabama Field Director. Several Miss Hamilton associates have longstanding roles in the organization. One of the Miss Hamilton founders, Kathy Holloway, became a much beloved and longtime backstage mom until her death in 2011. Her daughter, Katrina Smith, now serves in that role. Mitzi McDaniel, who joined the Miss Hamilton Board in its earliest days, is a Miss Alabama Field Director.
Today
Legacy
Legacy
The Miss Hamilton Organization operates under the umbrella of the Hamilton Area Chamber of Commerce. The Miss Hamilton Board of Directors works to provide titleholders with comprehensive guidance and support. We recognize that each titleholder is an individual with unique needs, interests, and beliefs. Our goals is that every titleholder complete her year of service having achieved the greatest personal and competitive development she is capable of at that point in her life. In 2024, the organization celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first Miss Hamilton Pageant and was recognized at the 2024 Miss Alabama Competition. As we move forward towards our next fifty years, the Miss Hamilton Board takes pride in continuing in the tradition of the women who came before us and in embracing the future that lies ahead.