Continuing one of the oldest traditions on campus, Campbellsville University will crown this year’s queen during the Student Government Association’s 83rd Valentine’s Pageant on Feb. 15.
“One of the missions that we have in the student government is to uphold traditions. That’s my biggest goal,” said Gabriel Maurer, SGA president. “We want to see Campbellsville grow and thrive, and you can’t grow if you let old traditions die. So, we’re just really thankful we get to keep opportunities like this alive for students.”
The pageant will be held in Ransdell Chapel at 7 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 15. Everyone is invited to the event and admission is free.
The contestants will be representing different clubs from campus and will be judged based on their poise, appearance and talents during four categories.
Before the day of the pageant, contestants will meet individually with judges at the president’s house for interviews. Then, during the pageant, the contestants will perform three activities: their introductions, talent and a “fishbowl” question and answer segment.
“You want to present yourself as very skillful to the judges,” said Maurer.
This pageant goes further than the grounds of CU’s campus. The queen of the pageant will represent Campbellsville University at the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival in May. Another long-lasting tradition, this is one of Kentucky’s oldest festivals, apart from the Kentucky Derby, and has been celebrated since its founding in 1931.
After the contestants have performed, the judges will tally the scores and decide the winners. While the scores are being tallied, there will be a gameshow for guests to enjoy.
“We do try to make it entertaining for all guests that come,” Maurer said. “In the past two years we’ve hosted a game show where we play games with the crowd… it’s a good time for all people.”
According to Maurer, the pageant is a way to connect people to the university, and he encourages people to come and enjoy this experience.
“It’ll be a good memory for you to look back on as your time in college,” he said. “I think that’s a lot of what students need as they’re going through college, memories to look back on.”
Maurer and the SGA have invited four past pageant participants to help guide and teach this year’s contestants. They will help prepare the young women to succeed on the day of the pageant, especially those who are new to this type of experience.
“We will work with these girls to make sure they are in the best position to be prepared for that day and present themselves and their talents,” said Maurer.
One of the members of this committee is Macy Brown, who won the pageant in 2024. Brown will be helping behind-the-scenes by planning, decorating and organizing meetings and practices for the contestants. The practices and mentors are there for the young women to help make the evening as seamless as possible and prepare the young women for success.
When Brown participated, she had no prior experience or interest in pageants. However, she said this pageant is “friendly for everyone.” When she was in the pageant, she participated with two of her best friends on campus, Cheyanne Nickels and Abigail Duvall.
“My friends and I decided we would just do it for fun, and we had a ball with it,” she said.
When her friends participated in the pageant, they all placed. Brown received the title of queen, Nickels won first alternate and Duvall won second alternate.
“The thing that really stuck out to me is they [the judges] are not just judging you based on what you do on stage,” said Brown. “They really want to get to know you and see whether or not you’re going to be a good representation of the school.”
Brown reassures contestants that prior pageant experience is not necessary.
“Just make the most of it and just be yourself because, ultimately, that’s what the judges want to see, you being your authentic self,” she said.
MaKenna Meeks, last year’s winner, has already graduated from CU and is pursuing a law degree at the University of Louisville. She‘s participated in pageants since she was six months old, and she said those experiences have helped her improve her public speaking skills, interviewing skills and her confidence to be herself.
“Those are all the skills I can take now to the courtroom to be a transactional lawyer, to ace an interview, to get jobs and to be an attorney,” Meeks said.
Although Meeks has participated in many other pageants, the Valentine’s Pageant holds a special place in her heart as she was escorted by her dad.
“I’ve done pageants my entire life and, typically, it’s just you on the stage; no one else is with you,” she said. “So, getting to experience a pageant alongside my dad and having him on the stage with me, having him next to me as they called my name to be the winner, was just a moment we both will never forget.”
Meeks will be returning to Campbellsville University to crown this year’s winner.
She said her favorite part of participating in this pageant was being able to be a part of the long-lasting traditions of Campbellsville as well as Kentucky during the festival. The festival was no small accomplishment for her either as she and her grandmother both had dreams of her attending the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival.
“Just getting to immerse yourself in true Kentucky tradition, culture and history,” she said. “Getting to represent Campbellsville University, a university that I love dearly, just made it even more special. So, just knowing what the Valentine’s Day Pageant means to the university, to the community and to the state as a whole put it all into perspective for me.”
Editor’s note: After beginning reporting for this story, reporter Audrey DeJaynes decided to participate in this year’s Valentine’s Pageant.
