Chari Guzman Wins 59th Annual Miss Cobb County Pageant at Jennie T. Anderson Theatre, Aug. 6th

Set to the theme, "The Fabulous 12," twelve outstanding young women were featured in the 59th annual Miss Cobb County Scholarship Pageant staged at the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre on Saturday, August 6th. Chari Guzman, 21, electrified the audience with her dynamic song and dance performance to Tina Turner's "Proud Mary" on her way to being selected Miss Cobb County 2017. She will represent Cobb County in the Miss Georgia Pageant in Columbus next June and the Peach State winner moves on to the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City. Also sharing the spotlight was Sabrina Elson, 16, who was crowned Miss Cobb County's Outstanding Teen. The talented vocalist will carry the Cobb County Teen banner to Columbus next June to participate in Miss Georgia's Outstanding Teen Pageant where the winner will advance to compete in Miss America's Outstanding Teen Pageant in Orlando, Florida. The Miss Cobb Pageant selects an outstanding teen to serve in this capacity. The twelve Miss Cobb County contestants were judged in a private 10-minute interview held at the host hotel, the Atlanta Marriott Northwest at Galleria, prior to the pageant. The stage competition included talent, evening gown, lifestyle and fitness in swimsuit and on-stage question. The emcee was Joanne Feldman, popular meteorologist for FOX 5 Atlanta. Ms. Feldman held the title of Miss Cobb County 1993. The production featured the exciting performing arts group ComPAny from Pebblebrook High School for Excellence in the Performing Arts under the direction of Frank Timmerman. Also performing were dancer Daira Wieherhold, Miss Cobb's Talented Pre-Teen, and vocalist Alyssa Payne, Miss Cobb's Talented Teen. Brooke Doss, Miss Cobb County 2016 and first runner-up in the Miss Georgia Pageant this year, crowned Ms. Guzman. Carley Vogel, the 2016 Miss Cobb County's Outstanding Teen and a top ten finalist in the state pageant, crowned Ms. Elson. The Miss Cobb County Pageant is staged and produced by the Miss Cobb committee composed entirely of community volunteers. For her many years of service to the pageant, Alice Surber was honored with the "Lifetime Achievement Award." Special recognition also was given to the Sponsor of the Year, k mike whittle UNIQUE FLORAL DESIGNS, located at 156 Church Street in Marietta. Everyone was able to enjoy the beautiful flowers given to the winners. The pageant was produced and directed by seasoned community service volunteer, Terry Chandler, who is also the General Chairperson for the pageant and responsible for pulling all the details together to make the pageant such a successful experience for both the contestants and the audience. For the past 25 years, the Miss Cobb County Pageant has been recognized as the top scholarship pageant in the Miss Georgia system. This year the pageant awarded a total of $15,300 in cash scholarships. Miss Cobb County and her court are shown in the first picture above. Shown from left to right are: Fourth runner-up, Bailey Thompson, 22, $500 cash scholarship; Second runner-up, Paula Smith, 19, $1,000 cash scholarship; Miss Cobb County, Chari Guzman, 21, $10,650 cash scholarship including the $400 Donna Chastain talent award and the $250 Corwin M. Robison Swimsuit Award; First runner-up, Stephanie Gargiulo, 22, $2,200 cash scholarship including the $200 Lace Larrabee Miss Congeniality Award; and 3rd runner-up, Jordan Meachum, 19, $950 cash scholarship including the $200 Emily Cook Ward Newcomer Award. In the second photo, Miss Cobb County, Chari Guzman (left) and the new Miss Cobb County's Outstanding Teen, Sabrina Elson, (right) are thrilled to be the new representatives. During the coming year, Ms. Elson will be working with Steve Duncan, the chairperson for the Miss Cobb County's Outstanding Teen program. The Miss Cobb County Pageant will manage and conduct the upcoming Miss North Georgia State Fair Pageant as a fundraiser for the Miss Cobb County Scholarship Fund. There are 7 titles for young ladies ages 3 years through 24 years. The pageant will take place on Thursday, September 22, at the fairgrounds located at 2245 Callaway Road in Marietta, 30008. For more information and an application, contact Steve Duncan at 678-793-2007, Alice Surber at 770-973-3214, Gene Phillips at 770-435-6378 or misscobbcounty@yahoo.com.