Mitchell crowned as Princess Altona as past royalty passes on crowns

By Robert Williams

Editor

Reactions from the Event Center crowd and organizers combined Thursday, July 31, to remind pageant fans what they were missing in Vergas since 2019. While pageants for kids had continued, Miss Vergas 2019 Kaylee Baumgart had been designated Miss Vergas Forever with no expectations of the pageant returning.

Baumgart and Princess Altona 2019 Meghan Reed returned to Vergas Wednesday to emcee the pageant and were part of the organization crew led by volunteer Heather Perrine in an all-day affair to prepare contestants for the big night.

Perrine stated how both had been wonderful representatives of Vergas during their six-year reigns and how hopes were for the new pageant to take over from where they left off.

“We were so happy that they (Reed and Baumgart) were able to come on board and emcee; they choreographed everything,” said Perrine.

Contestants and organizers arrived at 9 a.m., Thursday morning, spending all day putting the pageant together.

“Over the last 24 hours, this whole place has come together,” said Perrine. “In the last 10 hours, they literally pieced together a pageant.”

Perrine also thanked the community of Vergas for asking her to help bring the pageant back.

“The future is going to look bright for some new Vergas representatives,” said Perrine.

Perrine’s address to the crowd came after both Reed and Baumgart recited their actual farewells, something they had not done. 

Both were quick to thank Perrine for her efforts in bringing back to pageant; Reed noted how happy she was to return to Vergas and give an actual farewell as is custom after wearing the crown for a year.

Miss Vergas 2025 had four contestants Katie Courneya, Alydia Mitchell, Addison Lowell and Onalea Maijala. Courneya was Miss Frazee Teen 2022.  Maijala was crowned Miss Wolf Lake in 2023. Lowell and Mitchell were both coming off recent pageant runs at Miss Northwest and Miss Frazee, respectively. Courneya was crowned Miss Vergas 2025.

Janaya Mitchell was crowned the new Princess Altona while Olivia Kroetsch and Maurice Mitchell both won over the crowd as Little Miss and Little Mr. Vergas winners.

Look for more photos from the pageant in this issue of the Forum.

Miss Vergas 2025 Contestants:

Katie Courneya*

Alydia Mitchell

Addison Lowell

Onalea Maijala

Princess Altona 

Contestants:

Rachael Courneya

Janaya Mitchell*

Annikah Blauret

Little Miss Vergas 

Contestants:

Olivia Kroetsch*

Stella Spiekermeier

Natalie Thompson

Zeeva Rousu

Anika Glawe

Little Mr. Vergas 

Contestants:

Walker Hanson

Maurice Mitchell*

*crowned