Pageant News Bureau - National Sweetheart 2006

Just the right sweetness

Photos by Joe Whiteko / PNB

Kelley Bradshaw of Georgia is crowned Miss National Sweetheart

A lot of sweet entertainment can be dangerously overpowering. Songs like "Sugartime" and "Sugar, Sugar." TV shows with adorably doe-eyed kids. Commercials with talking stuffed animals. They make a person feel like a pancake in a syrup storm, soaked and soppy. "I'm getting ... mushy ... mmmmm!"

But nobody has ever overdosed on National Sweetheart, that small-town Illinois pageant suggested by (but not affiliated with) Miss America. (Pardon our parenthetical disclaimer.) At the end of every summer, runners-up from Miss America state finals across the country come to the town of Hoopeston to take part in the Sweetcorn Festival -- and take the measure of one another.

Like the world-famous corn that gave the festival its name, the pageant contestants are sweet, downright yummy. But there's something so wholesome and unspoiled about them that you can look at them all day without any ill effects. In fact, you get stronger as you watch. But don't get too close. (That "scarecrow" over there is actually a security guard.)

Fourth runner-up, Caressa Cameron, Virginia

Jill Stevens, Utah (Miss Congeniality)

The parade through downton Hoopeston, Ill., home of America's heartland Sweetcorn Festival.

On Labor Day Weekend 2006, in a ritual as regular as the seasons, the girls came to Hoopeston again. And it was another fine show. Kelley Bradshaw of Georgia was crowned Miss National Sweetheart. (Georgia in recent years has emerged as a power in this event.) The first runner-up was Katie Boyd of Alabama, and the second runner-up was Gina Valo of Michigan. The third runner-up was Elyse Umemoto of Washington. The fourth runner-up was Caressa Cameron of Virginia. Miss Congeniality was Jill Stevens of Utah.

And PNB was there, as regular as the seasons, adding its own pungent spice to this sweet treat. Yes, we are the secret ingredient. And you love it, sweetheart.