In March of this year Rustic Comfort Photography proprietor, Jamie Merriman, started taking applications for their 2nd Annual Sweet 16 Contest. Last year, they had seven girls participate, and this year there were eight. The girls are from anywhere in the tri-county area. Each girl had a session fee, but most all had either the whole or partial fee paid for by a donation from Red Angel Pizza in Paulding, OH. The girls all received a single session at various times and locations starting in April of this year. Then they had a group session that was kindly donated by ‘The Promise we Make” Wedding venue in Montpelier Ohio. It was the most fun time, with parents and kids alike getting to meet each other.
The rules are pretty simple – the girl has to be 16 between December of last year, to this year. Each girl learns to fill out a small bio about themselves and turn it back in to Rustic Comfort Photography. Then on Saturday, August 17th a small party was held with a meal for the girls at the home of Merriman. There were three judges that are unknown and unannounced to the contestants prior to the contest. Each girl spent approximately 15 minutes with the judges being interviewed. “This portion of the contest is so important in my opinion,” Merriman comments. “It teaches the girls life skills and interview techniques.”
The judges then score each girl in categories like preparation, kindness, speaking, etc. Those scores were held until the end of the contest. Part two began on August 20th and ran on Rustic Comfort Photography Facebook page for five days where a different photo of each girl was posted every day, and it was voted on by the public, and tallied at the end of the five days. The votes were added to the interview scores and it was exciting to announce the winner and runner up on Sunday, August 25th.
Congratulations to this year’s winner — Miss Vivianna King-Mayeku from Defiance High School. She is the daughter of Katrina King. Runner Up, Miss Alexa Greve, is from Ayersville High School. The winner receives a $400 Scholarship and a Full senior photo package with Rustic Comfort Photography, and Runner up receives a $200 Scholarship and a partial senior package. Their scholarships will be given when they verify the college in which they enroll, or a trade school or other higher learning after graduation.
Merriman stated, “I want to thank the small businesses that supported me again this year, they have been incredible — Red Angel Pizza, Fuel Good Energy, Gal Nail, Landing Strip, Charloe Sno Cone, Sandy Seibert Cakes, Downtown Roots Salon, Lavender Moon massage Therapy, Paulding Pancake House. They are the best!”
