Two locals will represent West Virginia in the Miss America World pageant, Oct. 10-12 in Las Vegas.

 

Katelyn Hollar of Clarksburg holds the title of Miss West Virginia World America and Ally Spellman of Bridgeport holds the Miss West Virginia Teen World America title.

 

Both are excited to represent the Mountain State in the national pageant, the official preliminary for Miss World, the longest-running international beauty pageant in the world.

 

“I am very excited – not only to compete again, but also to meet new friends and to travel to Vegas, a place I’ve never been before – to see new scenery and experience something new,” Hollar said. “The farthest west I’ve ever been is Texas, so I’m real excited to explore out of my comfort zone.”

 

Her past titles including Miss Teen West Virginia United States and Miss West Virginia United States - for which she was a contestant in the Miss United States title in Orlando, Fla. – Hollar will compete in several phases of competition.

 

“The mandatory phases of competition for all contestants is the Beauty with a Purpose Challenge, the Interview Challenge, Top Model Challenge and Influencer Challenge,” she said.

 

Interview has always been one of her favorite phases, but this pageant, Hollar looks forward to the Beauty with a Purpose Challenge; an opportunity to share her Christian beliefs and values. The platform she has chosen is Healthy Vanity, which is also the name of her new blog.

 

“I focus on fashion, faith and wellness – topics related to making yourself feel good and confident in your own skin, understanding that God created us in his image and that we are perfect – not what social norms tell us we should or shouldn’t be,” she said. “I’m very passionate about that.”

 

The faith component was inspired, Hollar said, when she recently attended Judson Baptist Champ in Upshur County.

 

“The theme was ‘No Matter What’ as it was explained to the children – and everyone there – that God says we are perfect the way we are and we don’t have to measure up to our own standards,” she said. “I am a perfectionist and I’ve been guilty of judging my worth off what society tells me. Hearing that topic really hit me. It was life-changing.”

 

This time around, Hollar said she is focusing more on God and less on herself.

 

“When you go to a pageant like this, only one girl is going to win. You still want to be the best representative of yourself and your state, but this time I’m focusing on being a light for Him and allowing his message to shine through me,” she said.

 

Spellman holds the title of World Perfect Junior Teen and competed recently in the National World Perfect pageant in Fort Lauderdale, placing seventh. She also claimed first maid and most photogenic in the 2019 West Virginia Strawberry Festival Teen Queen pageant.

 

She said she found out about the Miss West Virginia Teen World America opportunity in June and was excited to try to compete on a higher level.

 

Spellman said she also loves traveling to new places and making new friends, both perks of the pageant circuit. She will also compete in the Beauty with a Purpose Challenge and has chosen to place her focus on protecting and preserving the ocean habitat.

 

Spellman and Hollar - both who began their pageant journey as contestants in the Miss Benedum Festival pageant in Bridgeport – were selected by the America Miss World organization to represent West Virginia, based on credentials and experience in pageantry. Cody-Kristofer Layton serves as state director.

 

“I had previously been involved with the Miss World Organization a few years ago, taking time off to peruse fashion interests and was approached by the organization to return as the executive director for West Virginia,” he said. “Instead of holding a standard pageant, I wanted the process to be more formal in finding a Miss & Teen representative. I have been involved in Katelyn and Ally’s pageant careers and felt they were the best candidates for the job.”

 

Both girls were crowned during a crowing ceremony held last weekend at Oliverio’s Ristorante.

 

Spellman is the daughter of Kim Spellman and Randy Spellman of Bridgeport. She is a junior at Bridgeport High School. A 2012 graduate of Lincoln High School, Hollar is the daughter of Aron and Brett Hollar of the Clarksburg area. She attends Ten Mile Baptist Church.

 

In preparing for the upcoming pageant, both seek opportunities to serve the community through volunteerism. This week, they visited and served the Humane Society of Harrison County.

 

The pageant journey is, indeed, as valuable as the destination, Hollar said.

 

“Pageantry is a sisterhood. God has blessed me with three sisters and he continues to bless me with more sisters,” she said. “I’ve gained a lot of sister queens and great friends through pageants.”

 

The October pageant will be held at The Orleans Hotel and Casino in Vegas. Information about how to watch via live stream will be posted to Connect-Bridgeport when it becomes available.

 

Pictured right are Cody-Kristofer Layton, Katelyn Hollar, Ally Spellman and Angela Patsy, owner of Oliverio's Bridal & Prom Boutique, and active in the pageant circuit. Patsy has been affilated with the girls throughout their pageant journeys.