MARTINSBURG— As the song says, “Take me home, country roads,” and past recipients of the Miss West Virginia title will be taking those roads to arrive in Martinsburg for the 80th celebration of the pageant.
“We asked some of the Forever Miss West Virginias what they miss and what they are looking forward to most as they return for the anniversary,” said organizer Candy Reid, adding that there were many responses to the question, as well as to what those Miss Virginia winners consider to be the “Power of the Crown.”
Many also shared their fondest memories — not only of the pageant in which they received their crown but of the Mountain State as a whole.
“I have lived out of state for 62 years, but West Virginia will always be home,” shared Carole Weeks Johnson, Miss West Virginia 1961, who now resides in Wildwood, Missouri. “What I miss most are the hills, my little town of Rivesville and the Monongahela River.”
Dianne Barnett Lough, Miss West Virginia 1970, who resides in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is looking forward to returning to the pageant this week.
“I am most looking forward to reuniting and inspiration,” she said. “I want my young sisters to see that we have a shared experience that connects us.”
Lough also spoke to all that both her local title of Miss Wood County and Miss West Virginia provided for her, such as scholarships, appearances and the opportunity to promote all that she loved about her home state.
The love of West Virginia is a common theme among these women who represented their state with pride and passion in the years they served as Miss West Virginia. Many have shared their thoughts on what they were able to give, as well as what they were able to receive in the role.
“To me, the power is in the privilege to be a part of something bigger than yourself,” said Lisa Bittinger Estupian, Miss West Virginia 1989. “There is reward in inspiring others by simply competing, learning and growing to become a better person.”
Despite the demands of time and the commitment necessary to fulfill the reign, those who have worn the crown considered it an honor, as they learned so much on their individual journeys.
“I approached Miss West Virginia as a full-time job, even though I was also a full-time student at WVU,” said Kim Parrish, Miss West Virginia 1992. “I traveled 40,000 miles and made more than 200 appearances.
“I seized the opportunity to network throughout the state, promoting the organization and establishing contacts that would later aid in launching my television career,” she added, saying that through the program, she developed marketing and public relations skills she continues to use.
A unique perspective was shared by Danae DeMasi-Lemon, who won the title in 2001.
“The terrorist attacks of 9/11 happened while we were all arriving to compete for Miss America. This drew us closer together, and our class, led by our winner, Katie Harmon, collaborated to write a book titled ‘Under the Crown: 51 Stories of Courage, Determination, and the American Spirit,’” she said.
“What I learned is that every life has a purpose. I owed it to the youth of West Virginia to be the best motivational speaker and the most effective Miss West Virginia I could be. In addition to telling students about my perspective on the 9/11 tragedy, I told them how important it is to get a good education and never give up on their dreams.”
Kaitlin Gates Ferguson, Miss West Virginia 2012, shared her perspective that the crown is invaluable.
“It opened many doors for me that might not have otherwise been opened,” she said.
Martinsburg’s own Morgan Breeden Branch, Miss West Virginia 2016, explained that the crown served as a gateway for people to listen.
“It can open doors, but the impact you make is up to you,” she said. “I’m thankful for the sisters who came before and after me, and I can’t wait to see who joins us for our 80th Miss West Virginia.”
“Meshing the pageant world and the ag world was difficult at first. However, this led to dozens of speaking events in front of people who had never considered the Miss America Organization as a way to promote their nation’s farmers. It led to traveling over 40,000 miles across the nation to put agriculture in the spotlight. It led to wearing jeans and muck boots on the Miss America stage, landing me a spot in the top five,” commented the 2023 recipient, Elizabeth Lynch “It further solidifies that your uniqueness, passion for a topic, and ability to use your voice make you an incredible titleholder and woman in this world.”
Each woman who has worn the crown throughout the history of the Miss West Virginia pageant has both given and received so much during the experience. Each has shared her passions and love of her state, her platform and life in general, all while serving as a role model for those around the state who have a dream to someday walk across a stage.
