Miss America 1988 to attend Miss Bay County pageant

Posted on July 11, 2017 at 9:30 AM

Miss America 1988 Kaye Lani Rae Rafko speaks during the finale of the Miss Michigan Scholarship Pageant at Frauenthal Center on Saturday, June 17, 2017 in downtown Muskegon, Mich. (Youngrae Kim | MLive.com)

BY MARY TEWKSBURY

ESSEXVILLE, MI -- When a group of a young ladies compete for the title of Miss Bay County later this month, legendary royalty will witness the crowning.

Miss America 1988, Kaye Lani Rae Rafko (Wilson), is set to attend the Miss Bay County pageant at Essexville-Hampton Garber High School, 213 Pine St., 2 p.m. Sunday, July 23.

Since its inception in 1921, there have been five Miss Americas from Michigan. In 1988, Kaye Lani Rae Rafko took home the title.

Miss America 1988 -- Crowning
Beginning at 1 p.m. on the day of the pageant, those in attendance can take pictures with the Miss America winner and her daughter, Alana Wilson, the current Miss Bay County.

Contestants in the Miss Bay County pageant compete in four categories: talent, lifestyle and fitness, evening wear and an on-stage question. The new Miss Bay County then goes on to compete at the Miss Michigan pageant in June 2018. The winner of Miss Michigan competes at the Miss America pageant. At the close of competition Wilson, Miss Bay County 2017, crowns the new Miss Bay County.

More than $2,000 in scholarships are awarded at the annual pageant.

Also taking place during the pageant, is the selection of Miss Bay County's Outstanding Teen, for girls ages 12-17. Miss Bay County's Outstanding Teen can also compete at the state level for Miss Michigan's Outstanding Teen.

The Miss Bay County Scholarship Program is a local affiliate of the Miss America Organization and is open to young women, ages 17-23 who live, work, or go to school locally.

http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2017/07/miss_bay_county_scholarship_pa.html