Kennedy Holland of Greenwood was crowned the 2025 Miss Arkansas Saturday night.

The show was emceed by Sarah Slocum Collins, Miss Arkansas of 2009, and Chris Kane, former KATV news anchor.

The outgoing Miss Arkansas, Camille Cathey, crowned her successor in front of an energetic crowd while gold confetti fell at the Robinson Center in Little Rock. A group of contestants ran onstage to congratulate the winner.

Compassion Legacy, which ensures inclusivity and accessibility in recreational spaces, is Holland’s impact initiative. She will spend the year promoting her initiative while holding the Miss Arkansas title.

Before earning the crown, for which 47 women competed, Holland won the Miss Metro competition, which qualified her for the state pageant. She will also represent the state on the national stage at the Miss America pageant.

Holland, 20, was one of 15 semifinalists, narrowed down to five finalists, who were revealed Saturday — the day of the final competition. The 15 semifinalists participated in preliminary competition rounds, which began Tuesday, according to the Little Rock event calendar.

Throughout the week, contestants engaged in personal interviews with the judges; answered questions onstage; and competed in talent, health and fitness, and evening gown categories. The health and fitness category is now in its third year in the competition lineup.

In the talent portion of the competition, contestants featured their athleticism and musical skills, which included singing, dancing, speaking and piano performances.

Holland sang “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” which provoked loud applause from the audience.

As the recipient of the Miss Arkansas crown, Holland will receive a $30,000 scholarship from the nonprofit Miss Arkansas Scholarship Foundation sponsored by the Ted Shannon Skokos Foundation. The foundation also awarded runner-up Miss Greater Jonesboro Camryn Ross, 23, of North Little Rock, a $15,000 scholarship sponsored by Rhys and Leslie Branman of the Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center and Exhale Med Spa.

In order of placement, starting with the third-place winner, the rest of the top-five contestants were Miss Southwest Arkansas Haley Shourd, Miss White River Jada Simpson and Miss Dogwood Stevie St. John.

The other semifinalists, in random order, were Miss Arkansas State University Brooke Ray, Miss Central Arkansas Abigail Davis, Miss Grand Prairie Hagan Hord, Miss Greater Little Rock Kennedy Stanley, Miss Natural State Ally Hopper, Miss Northwest Arkansas Macy Ray, Miss Ouachita River Callie Scherrey, Miss Saline County Ciara Callicott, Miss South Arkansas Bailey Gibson and Miss Steel Capital Riley Strube.

Additionally, Miss Greater Little Rock Teen Amelia Lisowe, 14, of Benton, an incoming freshman at Bryant Junior High School, was crowned Miss Arkansas Teen on Friday night at the Robinson Center. According to a news release, the Miss Arkansas Scholarship Organization provided Lisowe more than $16,000 in scholarships based on her success in service, leadership and her performance in the competition. Additionally, she will compete in the Miss America Teen competition representing the Arkansas in the fall.

Lisowe’s social impact platform is Lisowe Lights, which has donated more than 30,000 nightlights to foster children worldwide and hopes to shine light on their lives during difficult times, according to the news release. For Lisowe’s talent, she performed a lyrical dance to Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing.”

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