As celebrities prepared for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s Golden Globe Awards, an ambassador of our city walked her own Red Carpet. In a Sherri Hill one-shoulder floor-length gown in in seafoam green, Danielle Hamner competed in her very first statewide pageant. The 2014 Benedum Festival queen was one of 76 girls from throughout West Virginia participating in the West Virginia Association of Fairs and Festivals Pageant, held Jan. 9-11 in Charleston.

 

“She did an amazing job and I am so very proud of her.  I wouldn’t have changed a thing that she did,” said Benedum Festival Pageant Director Judi Giffen. “She did not win as queen of West Virginia Association of Fairs and Festivals, but she won many hearts. I was happy to hear how much everyone enjoyed meeting her.”

 

Hamner’s enthusiasm about her experience is evident. This being her first West Virginia Association of Fairs and Festivals Pageant, the Bridgeport High School graduate said she was more impressed with the warmth and camaraderie than the element of competition. She left the pageant without a title, but with many new friends.

 

Contestants were divided into three groups for preliminary contests and rehearsals – many which were quite lengthy.  In the meantime, much bonding resulted, Hamner said. Also leading up to the main pageant event were a series of personal interviews and opportunity to share background about the cities and pageants which the girls represented.

 

“I got to tell everyone that my pageant honored Michael Benedum, who was responsible for much of the growth of Bridgeport,” Hamner said. “It was really cool to be able to share that history and heritage.”

 

The pageant wrapped up with Saturday evening’s evening gown competition and finals.

 

“Danielle owned the stage in her emerald green gown,” Giffen said. “She looked beautiful.”

 

Upon the announcement of the top 15 contestants, Hamner’s name was not called. Yet, she said she was excited to hear the name of Morgan Kesecker, a former Benedum Festival queen who this year represented the Parkersburg Homecoming Festival.

 

Ultimately winning the crown was Spencer, West Virginia's Lexi Farmer, for whom Hamner had also developed a soft spot.

 

“She had joked around about how in past years, the winner was always in her group, so I was really glad that this time, it was her,” Hamner said.

 

Farmer was crowned by 2014 West Virginia Association of Fairs and Festivals Queen Leslie Garrett.

 

Hamner, Giffen and supporting family and friends arrived in Charleston the afternoon of Thursday, Jan. 8.

 

“I surprised her while she was in orientation by decorating her room with balloons, streamers, stars, flowers, a gift basket and presents,” Giffen said. “It was a fun way to kick off the weekend.”

 

Official festivities got under way Friday with the Event Promotion competition. 

 

“All the girls wore jeans and hot pink pageant shirts,” Giffen said. “Danielle did her promo to a rap from the theme of ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.’”

 

The night before, Hamner and Giffen practiced the promo for hours.

 

“Because she helped me do that, I felt completely confident the next morning,” Hamner said. “When I got on stage, I wasn’t nervous.”

 

Giffen said she was excited to share Hamner’s first appearance at the WV Association of Fairs and Festivals Pageant.

 

“She was wonderful to work with,” she said. “She’s a natural and she was so excited to be there. She had a smile on her face the whole time. It was fun and no stress at all. I was very proud of her in how she represented the festival and Bridgeport. Everyone loved her.”

 

The WV Association of Fairs and Festivals Convention also featured a vendor show which included a number of entertainers.

 

“We met different bands who were there to be booked for fairs and festivals throughout the state,” Giffen said. “It was great to see Josh Oldaker from Harrison County and to meet many other performers, especially the up-and-coming Wyatt Turner Band.”