Gabrielle Gittens crowned Miss Niles 2025
Published 5:00 am Sunday, December 15, 2024
NILES — A new Miss Niles was crowned Saturday night in Grand Ole Opry style.
Seven young women and one young man showcased their red carpet style and unique talents to become the face of the community in 2025. When the dust settled, Gabrielle Gittens was crowned Miss Niles 2025 Saturday evening at Niles High School. Gittens inherits the crown from Miss Niles 2024 Amelia Rodgers.
The event was the zenith of the Miss Niles pageant, in which Little Miss and Mr., Junior Teen Miss and Mr., Teen Miss and Mr. and Miss and Mr. Niles titles were awarded by a panel of judges.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” Gittens said. “I’m in shock but I’m so grateful and thankful to have this opportunity.”
Rowan Iwaniuk was crowned Mr. Niles 2025 and inherits the crown from Mr. Niles 2024 Paxton Daniel. Gittens was also crowned Miss Congeniality.
“The kids did incredible,” said Miss Niles Pageant Co-Chair Katelyn Boyer. My expectations were completely blown out of the water. They were so good at listening to directions and they just absolutely shined. I’m so happy with how the courts turned out. Yeah, everybody turned out with selections. Of course, I have no control over the selection but all the kids were so great. I’m so excited to have all the ones that we have with us that were selected.
“I wish you could keep all of them but they worked so hard. I’m just really, really happy. I’m really proud and I’m really grateful and I get to do this.”
Gittens attends Berrien Springs High School, where she’s on the honor roll and is a member of the National Honor Society. Gabby holds offices including Student Council Class President and Historian of the Business Professionals of America. She has been recognized for her success in Science Olympiad, Choir Solo and Ensemble and track. Outside of her studies, Gittens enjoys mentoring area youth as well as participating in theater and dance. After graduation, Gabrielle plans to attend MIT for mechanical engineering and political science. She then hopes to transfer to Harvard to pursue a law degree.
“I knew this was going to be a great opportunity based on friends who have done it in the past,” she said. “I knew I’d be able to serve my community and I’d also be able to get a good experience, make new friends and meet new people, so that was the main reason I did it and I’m so thankful that I did.”
The pageant’s theme was the “Grand Ole Opry: A Centennial Celebration.” The Grand Ole Opry is a famous regular live country-music venue in Nashville, Tennessee turning 100 years old in 2025. Contestants performed a dance routine before taking part in a question, a “commercial” presentation where each contestant selected a Grand Ole Opry member and wrote and performed a commercial to advertise an album, product or song of theirs, a formal presentation and a fast walkthrough.
When asked about a time she achieved something worth celebrating, Gittens said participating in a ballet dance performance of The Nutcracker was an event she will not soon forget.
“Ever since I was little, I used to look up to the dancers who danced on the big stage,” she said. “Getting to achieve my dream of being a part of it was really fulfilling for me and I think that is one of the achievements that I can celebrate this year.”
Gittens said her favorite part of the pageant experience was meeting and getting to know the downtown Niles business owners.
“It was really nice because they were all so sweet,” she said. “They really represented Niles in my opinion with how open and kind they were and willing to support them.”
With the crown secured, Gittens will now represent Buchanan in the 2025 Blossomtime Festival in April. Established in 1906, Blossomtime is Michigan’s oldest and largest multi-community festival. The pageant is looking forward to Gittens’ and Iwaniuk’s reign.
“She is so sweet,” said Pageant Co-Chair Katelyn Boyer. “I think the fact that she got crowned Miss Congeniality as well as Miss Niles speaks for itself. She really shined in her interview and backstage together with contestants – you can’t fake authenticity like that. We’re so excited that we get to work with her and Rowan this year. They’re gonna be fantastic representatives.”
Gittens is looking forward to representing Niles in Blossomtime and getting to know her court.
“Right now, Blossomtime is definitely the biggest thing to look forward to,” she said. “But I’m also so excited to get closer to my court and get to know the Littles.”
Joining Gittens in her court of honor is Emma Williams, who was crowned first runner-up;Kylie Conn, who was crowned second runner-up; Iwaniuk as Mr. Niles.
Miss Niles Pageant results:
- Miss Niles & Miss Congeniality – Grabrielle Gittens
- Mr. Niles – Rowan Iwaniuk
- Miss Niles 1st Runner-Up – Emma Williams
- Miss Niles 2nd Runner-Up – Kylie Conn
- Miss Teen Niles – Shelby Snook
- Miss Teen Niles 1st Runner-Up – Alexis McCombs
- Miss Teen Niles 2nd Runner-Up – Kenley Weston
- Miss Junior Teen Niles – Izabelle Wilson
- Miss Junior Teen Niles 1st Runner-Up – Elaine Simons
- Miss Junior Teen Niles 2nd Runner-Up – Mya Moore
- Little Miss Niles – Madison Rodriguez
- Little Miss Niles 1st Runner-Up – Sophia Unger
- Little Miss Niles 2nd Runner-Up – Maddie Haff
- Little Mr. Niles – Lyle Unger
