Not bad for first: 2017's Wayne County Fire Princess is her department's first ever entry
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on October 15, 2017 3:45 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Abigail Allen, 16, smiles on stage after being crowned as the 2017 Wayne County Fire Princess Queen Saturday night at the Paramount Theatre. A junior at Charles B. Aycock High School Abigail represented Northeast Volunteer Fire Department.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Abigail Allen plays Oscar the Grouch in her Sesame Street Theme talent performance during the 43rd annual Wayne County Fire Princess Pageant. This year's theme was "Every second counts, plan two ways out."
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News-Argus/PHYLLIS MOORE
Abigail Allen, 16, center, a junior at Charles B. Aycock High School representing Northeast Volunteer Fire Department, was crowned 2017 Wayne County Fire Princess tonight at the Paramount Theatre. Her court, from left, included Kelly Hooks of Fremont FD, fourth runner-up and Miss Congeniality; Morgan Gurley of New Hope FD, second runner-up; first runner-up Sarah Aycock of Antioch FD; and Mackenzie Minchew of Belfast FD, third runner-up.
For the first time in the 43-year history of the Wayne County Fire Princess pageant, Northeast Volunteer Fire Department's contestant won the crown.
Abigail Allen, a junior at Charles B. Aycock High School, was named the 2017 Wayne County Fire Princess on Saturday night at the Paramount Theatre.
The 16-year-old won from a pool of nine contestants, each representing an area fire department.
Sponsored by the Wayne County Firemen's Association, the contest was launched as a way to spread the message about fire safety and fire prevention.
In addition to the typical pageant fare, including evening gown and on-stage question, contestants were required to weave into their talent segment educational components about fire safety.
This year's theme for the event was, "Every Second Counts, Plan Two Ways Out."
Contestant No. 1, Allen kicked off the proceedings in the form of a Sesame Street segment, embodying the character of Oscar the Grouch. She appearing on stage in a trash can, conducting an object lesson about fire safety in different settings.
After being named the evening's queen, she said it had always been a dream of hers to participate in this particular pageant.
She recalled fond memories growing up of watching fire trucks going out on a call and admiring previous winners from past pageants. Participating in the 2017 event did not disappoint, she said.
"My favorite part was my skit and getting to learn all the safety tips," she said, adding, "The thing I love about this pageant is being close to all these girls, different personalities and bringing everybody together.
"I'm looking forward to representing the best county in the world and the events and the parades."
Rounding out the Fire Princess court were first runner-up Sarah Aycock, 17, a senior at Charles B. Aycock High, representing Antioch Volunteer Fire Department; second runner-up Morgan Gurley, 15, a sophomore at Eastern Wayne High, representing New Hope Fire Department; third runner-up Mackenzie Minchew, 17, a senior at Rosewood High, representing Belfast Fire Department; and Kelly Hooks, 16, a sophomore at Charles B. Aycock, representing Fremont Fire Department, fourth runner-up and Miss Congeniality.
Other contestants and the fire stations they represented included Jordan Lindsay, a junior at CBA, from Nahunta VFD; Emily Pate, sophomore at Wayne School of Engineering, from Pikeville-Pleasant Grove VFD; Shannnon Casey, junior at Southern Wayne High, from Mar-Mac FD; and Dacie Williams, sophomore at Southern Wayne, from Thoroughfare FD.