POINT PLEASANT — Mason County was represented quite well at this year’s 65th Annual Miss West Virginia Scholarship Organization Pageant as four local women competed for the coveted title.

The pageant, which was held in Morgantown, took place June 18-20.

Competing in the pageant were Delyssa Huffman, 23, of Apple Grove, the daughter of Don and Shirley Huffman; and Heather Crum, 20, of Henderson, the daughter of Larry and Marketta Crum. Huffman competed as Miss South Charleston, while Crum competed as Miss Southern West Virginia.

In the Miss West Virginia’s Outstanding Teen Pageant, Payton Whitt, 16, of Point Pleasant, the daughter of Mark and Julia Whitt, and Kiona Norvell, 16, of Leon, the daughter of Steve and Charlotte Norvell, participated. Whitt competed as Miss Teen Kanawha Valley while Norvell competed as Miss Teen South Charleston. Whitt also is the reigning 2008 Miss Point Pleasant Battle Days.

This year’s pageant was televised statewide on WOWK-TV and had 1.2 million viewers. Contestants had the chance to meet current Miss America Katie Stam, and they competed in personal interview, lifestyle and physical fitness, talent, evening gown and on-stage interview.

Prior to the pageant, the local contestants worked together and hosted a fundraiser yard sale for the Children’s Miracle Network. According to Huffman, nearly $500 was raised. Huffman said that she along with the other contestants were grateful to those who helped make the yard sale possible, including the Mason County Courthouse, County Administrator John Gerlach, The Thomas Do-It Center of Gallipolis, Ohio, The City of Point Pleasant and Heather Moore.

Huffman, who is currently a senior at the University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College, placed in the top eight and won the Jim Bartolo Evening Gown Award. She also won the non-finalist Interview Award Scholarship, and was voted recipient of the Spirit Award — Miss Congeniality by the other pageant contestants. Huffman represented her platform, which is B.U.D.s — Buddy Up with Down Syndrome.

Crum’s platform is D.A.T.E .—Diabetes Awareness Takes Everyone; Whitt’s platform is H.E.A.R.T. — healthy eating, exercise, awareness, results, training; and Norvell’s platform is March of Dimes: Born to L.I.V.E. — lead, inspire, volunteer, educate.

Winning Miss West Virginia 2009 was Talia Markham of Ripley. Markham will represent the state in the Miss America Pageant, which is slated for January 2010. Jackie Riggleman of Moorfield was crowned Miss West Virginia Outstanding Teen.