09/23/2026
Contestant entry extension ENDS TONIGHT!
WED, SEP 23, 11:59P
The *Miss Lake Whitney Pageant* is still on schedule for Saturday, Sep 26th, to award a $1000 scholarship and $300 in cash division prizes. We WILL NOT tolerate judge tampering or undisclosed conflicts. This WILL be a fair pageant (more at the press release below). Due to concerns that some contestant packets might have been intentionally by an unethical steering member who has since been removed, we are opening the entry period for another 72 hours: Please feel free to send an email expressing interest to [email protected] BEFORE WED, SEP 23, 11:59P
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MISS LAKE WHITNEY PAGEANT ANNOUNCES $1,000 SCHOLARSHIP, STRONG ETHICS AND ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES
WHITNEY, TEXAS —
As Whitney celebrates 150 years as an organized community and America marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Miss Lake Whitney Pageant is renewing a tradition that, for more than half a century, has given young women the opportunity to represent the Lake Whitney area with character, confidence, service, and community pride.
Thirty-four contestants have entered to participate in this year’s Miss Lake Whitney Pageant, competing for division awards that include cash prizes for the younger divisions and a $1,000 scholarship for the Miss division.
Sponsored by the Whitney Lions Club as it celebrates its 95th charter anniversary, the pageant has placed particular emphasis on creating an experience that is safe, ethical, transparent, and fair to every contestant.
“We want every contestant and every family to know that the integrity of this pageant matters to us,” Whitney Lions Club President Debbie Gregory said. “These young ladies deserve to walk onto that stage knowing they are being treated fairly, their safety is being taken seriously, and the results reflect what they earned that day.”
As part of that commitment, the pageant has partnered with experienced Pageant Consultant and Pageant Pro Network’s “Top 5” Director Mary Oakes to provide independent guidance on judging procedures, conflicts of interest, contestant advocacy, and pageant ethics.
“Mary’s experience navigating conflicts of interest—especially the challenges that naturally arise in small communities—is invaluable,” Gregory said. “Our goal is simple: every contestant should have a fair opportunity to succeed on her own merits.”
The pageant is assembling a judging panel that includes judges from outside Hill County as well as local representation. Judges are being selected using Oakes’ diversity schematic to create a panel representing a range of backgrounds, experience, perspectives, and geographic areas while reducing potential conflicts of interest.
Oakes serves as an important buffer between contestants, families, pageant organizers, and judges, helping maintain appropriate boundaries throughout the competition.
To further safeguard fairness and confidentiality, the pageant will use Tally Genie, a secure digital scoring and tabulation system. Judges submit scores through individual password-protected accounts, with tabulation independently overseen by the pageant auditor. Final results remain confidential from contestants, families, and the steering committee until they are announced from the stage.
“My role is to advocate for a multi-prong process that protects both the contestants and the integrity of the judging,” Oakes said. “Families should be able to ask questions, understand the safeguards that are in place, and feel confident that every girl is being given a genuine opportunity to compete fairly.”
Oakes welcomes questions from contestants, families, and community members regarding the pageant’s ethics, judging, and accountability procedures and may be reached at 830-928-9488.
The Miss Lake Whitney Pageant will be held Saturday, September 26, 2026, at the Whitney ISD Auditorium, 305 S. San Jacinto Street in Whitney. Opening ceremonies begin at 5:30 p.m.
Contestants will demonstrate character, communication skills, community service, and civic pride through Interview, “Red, White and Blue on YOU,” (America250 thematic attire), Formal Evening Wear, and a final On-Stage Question.
Admission is only $2, and the community is invited to come support a favorite contestant and cheer for all the young ladies who have stepped forward to participate.
Pageant proceeds will benefit the Whitney Parks Board and the Whitney Volunteer Fire Department.
