Wednesday night, Miss Southern West Virginia Miranda Harrison was crowned Miss West Virginia at Morgantown Event Center. Harrison was crowned by 2012 Miss West Virginia Kaitlin Gates of Bridgeport.

Crowned Miss West Virginia Outstanding Teen was Miss Harrison County Outstanding Teen Emily Lopez. Lopez earned the Miss Harrison County title at the Miss West Virginia Sweeps Pageant held April 13 at Liberty High School.

Lopez is also a former Benedum Festival Teen Queen. She captured that crown in 2009. It was her very first pageant. Benedum Festival Pageant Director Judi Giffen was on hand Wednesday night to see Lopez named Miss West Virginia Outstanding Teen.

"As Emily's first pageant director, I was beyond excited and very impressed with Emily's performances throughout the pageant," Giffen said. "(She was) flawless. She stood out throughout the pageant. I truly believe that Emily has what it takes to bring home the national title."

The Miss America Outstanding Teen Pageant will be held in August at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

Lopez competed in the talent portion of the pageant by performing a lyrical dance number. Her platform is the Go "4" It Program; a self-developed inspirational program for young women.

Other finishers in the Miss Outstanding Teen division - contestants ranging in age from 13-17 - were Miss Northern West Virginia Outstanding Teen June Braunlich; 1st runner-up; Miss Southern West Virginia Outstanding Teen Krystian Leonard; 2nd runner-up; Miss Eastern Panhandle Outstanding Teen Braelynn Neely, 3rd runner-up and Miss Ohio Valley Outstanding Teen Emily Wigal, 4th runner-up.

In the Miss West Virginia division - contestants ranging in age from 17-24 - Miss Morgantown Ashley McLaughlin was 1st runner-up; Miss Jefferson County Makayla Lewis was 2nd runner-up; Miss Capital City Chelsea Malone was 3rd runner-up and Miss Maggie Power was 4th runner-up.

Miss West Virginia Miranda Harrison performed a vocal number in the talent competition. Her platform is Never Say Never: Support for Children and Families Coping with Childhood Cancer.

Harrison will represent the Mountain State at the 87th Miss America Pageant, scheduled for Sept. 15, 2013 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ.

Pictured top is Lopez and left is Harrison. For more information and photos, visit www.misswestvirginia.org.