By By SPIROS GALLOS / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Judges chose a 17-year-old Niles High School girl as Miss Niles-Brandywine at the annual contest on Saturday.
Lacey Liane Wiemuth, daughter of Dave Wiemuth and Linda Miller, was chosen from the field of 12 contestants from Niles and Brandywine high schools.
The well-attended event was held at the Niles High School auditorium.
For the opening number of show, themed "When You Wish Upon a Star," the contestants together performed a dance to the Fat Boy Slim song "Rockefeller Skank."
Contestants entered the stage in their evening gowns through an arch designed to look like Cinderella's magic coach.
The five finalists had to answer one question each from event emceeBill Lewis before the judges made their final decision.
Judges also used a seven-minute interview with each contestant prior to the contest when deciding on a winner.
Set against a blue back drop and images of various Disney movie characters, Wiemuth answered her question: "If you suddenly realized you could make yourself invisible what would you do and why?"
Wiemuth, who like all the court, is a pageant rookie, but had previously won the title of Homecoming Queen at Niles High School this year.
When asked how she felt after winning, Wiemuth said: "Great, all that hard work paid off."
Wiemuth, who plans to attend Ferris State University to study dental hygiene, wore a teal beaded gown with a slit up the front and a halter top style neck.
In addition to being named the queen, Wiemuth was also voted Miss Congeniality by her fellow pageant contestants.
Caity Hood, 17, a Niles High School student, was first runner up. Her parents are Cathy and Alan Hood.
Hood, who plans to attend Michigan State University to become a veterinarian, wore a strapless, pink evening gown with sequins adorning the front.
Lewis asked Hood what she was most thankful for with Thanksgiving being less than month away.
Nicole Dembinski, 17, a Brandywine High School student, was second runner up. Her parents are Kelly and Karen Dembinski.
Dembinski entered the contest because her older sister, Renee, was a previous Jr. Miss Apple Festival Miss Congeniality, and she wanted to see what the pageant experience was like.
During the final phase of the contest, Lewis asked Dembinski what famous woman she most admired and why. "Hillary Clinton because I like politics and she has done a good job and is a good example of what a woman should be," she said.
After graduation, Dembinski plans to attend the University of Michigan to study education.