By Miles Layton

JAMESVILLE — Brittany Logan entered the Miss National Black Bear Festival Pageant because her daughter asked her to.

That was reason enough.

“If crowned as queen, it’s because my daughter wanted me to do the pageant with her,” Logan said, “so I want to show her that confidence is the key and that you can always do anything you put your mind to.”

Great quote — Logan was crowned, as was her daughter, Bailey. And so were many others. A gallery of photos appears at the end of this story.

On Saturday, the auditorium at Northeast Regional School of Biotechnology and Agriscience in Jamesville filled with contestants ranging in age from 1 to 43, each stepping into the spotlight for fitness, talent and formal wear rounds before a panel of judges. When the evening was over, a new court had been crowned — one that will represent the pageant when the National Black Bear Festival opens June 5-6 in Plymouth.

Why cover the pageant? First, because the National Black Bear Festival is a premier event. And second, if we can cover a football game or a festival, we can certainly pay tribute to those queens who serve as the ambassadors not only for the communities and festivals they represent, but also at festivals near and far across Northeast NC.  

For more about the pageant, see next week’s Roanoke Beacon.

Olivia Hogge, 17, was named Miss National Black Bear Festival and Miss National Black Bear Festival Most Photogenic in the Miss category. Logan, 32, took the Mrs. National Black Bear Festival Queen title and her own Most Photogenic honor, with Crystal Cuttrell, 43, as first runner-up. Avery Boyette, 11, was crowned Majestic Miss. Hadlee Casper, 13, earned both the People’s Choice Award and the Princess title. Caroline Manning, 10, was named Jr. Miss National Black Bear Festival Queen, with Sadie Riddick, 10, as first runner-up. Ava Harbin, 13, was crowned Teen Queen and Most Photogenic, with Casper finishing as first runner-up and Layla Williams, 13, as second runner-up.

Worth noting, Baby Miss was Macie Patrick; Wee Miss was Caroline Cutler; Tiny Miss was Kathleen Partash; Little Miss was Addilyn Jarvis; Mini Majestic Miss was Bailey Logan; Mini Ambassador was Kaidence Moore

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Aspiring royals

The junior division brought two honor roll students to the stage who, despite being 10 years old, have already carved out identities well beyond their years.

Caroline Manning, daughter of Trey Manning and Ashley Smith, attends Northeast Elementary and dances, reads and plays softball. She volunteers at concession stands and admires Marilyn Monroe. She also, for the record, can deadlift 115 pounds.

Sadie Riddick, daughter of Travis and Megan Riddick, attends D.F. Walker Elementary, where she serves as vice president of Student Council and packs food boxes at church for families at Christmas. Her hobbies run toward the athletic — basketball, volleyball, soccer — but her entrepreneurial streak may be what sets her apart most. Sadie founded Believe Beauty, a handmade bracelet business she designs and runs herself. She credits her family with teaching her to lead with kindness and to always give her best.

Avery Boyette claimed the Majestic Miss title. The 11-year-old daughter of Blake and Samantha Boyette attends Beargrass Charter and earned Most Improved at the 2026 Miss Roanoke Pageant. She donates toys to children during the holidays, rides four-wheelers with her little sister Reagan and dotes on her cockatiel, Dolly. She said she most admires her mother.

Teens Take the Stage

The teen division was among the most competitive of the evening, producing multiple title winners and a moment of quiet tribute that left a mark on the room.

Ava Harbin, the 13-year-old daughter of Doug and Amy Harbin, went home with both the Teen Queen crown and Most Photogenic. A Beargrass Charter student and 2025 Young Miss Roanoke, Ava has organized school supply drives for Martin County students and is active in Beta Club and cheerleading, earning MVP honors. She grew up in Covington, Georgia — the town where “The Vampire Diaries” was filmed — and has watched the show being made firsthand. She most admires her older sister for never giving up on the people she loves.

Hadlee Casper’s night was remarkable for its breadth. The 13-year-old Mattamuskeet School student and two-year captain of her middle school cheer team earned first runner-up in the teen queen competition, the People’s Choice Award and the Princess crown — all in a single evening. She volunteers with Vacation Bible School and children’s church, is a Beta Club member and, in a detail that draws smiles, can recite the entire “Zombies 4” word-for-word.

But it was who Hadlee named as the person she most admires that gave her introduction its emotional weight. She chose her teacher, Mrs. Louise Beirne, who died in December.

“Mrs. Beirne was kind to everyone,” Hadlee said, “and took the time to make each child feel loved.” Hadlee said she strives every day to be just like her.

Layla Williams, finishing as second runner-up, brought her own quiet depth to the competition. The 13-year-old daughter of Pat and Donna Spencer attends Mattamuskeet School and splits her community service between Lakers for Christ — a club dedicated to helping others — and volunteering at the fire department, where she helps her grandfather deliver Meals on Wheels. An honor roll student, Beta Club member and first-place finisher in Science Olympiad, Layla said she most admires her grandfather, Pat, for his kindness, his faith and the fact that he always makes time for her.

Kayden Broome, 13, also competed in the teen division. The daughter of Michael and Samantha Ball, Kayden attends Bath Elementary and competes in cheer at the state and national levels. She tutors younger students, works in her church nursery and is active in Math Team and Beat Club. She described her mother as a woman who has shown her what real strength looks like — “wrapped in grace, kindness and unwavering godly character.”

A Queen at the Top

Olivia Hogge didn’t just compete for the Miss crown — she came prepared to earn it.

The 17-year-old daughter of Kimberly and Robert Hogge attends Beargrass Charter and works at Memorial Baptist preschool. She coached a recreational volleyball league, refereed games and gathered used equipment for children who needed it. She is a member of Beta Club, the National Honor Society and Skills USA, and enjoys softball, pickleball and baking.

She said the person she admires most is her mother — for working hard, putting others first and always finding a way to push Olivia toward her best.

That spirit of showing up for others runs through nearly every contestant who took the stage Saturday. It showed in Sadie’s bracelet business and Caroline’s volunteer hours. It showed in Ava’s supply drives and Layla’s Meals on Wheels deliveries. It showed in Hadlee’s tribute to a teacher she lost.

Experience on Stage

Crystal Cuttrell, at 43, brought a resume that stretched well beyond the pageant circuit. The Hyde County Hotline volunteer and Volunteer President Award recipient is also a licensed firefighter. Her hobbies include beekeeping, gardening, crafting and baking — and in a twist that might be the evening’s most memorable biographical detail, she is allergic to honeybees.

Cuttrell said she most admires Jesus, her Aunt Kat and her Uncle Mark, describing them as people of deep faith who have endured hardship and judgment without losing their commitment to serving God and community.

Logan, meanwhile, is ServSafe certified, freelances in graphic design, and said her husband deserves credit for putting up with her “crazy ideas” — a list that, as of Saturday, now includes pageant queen.

She won. Her daughter watched. Point made.

The National Black Bear Festival is scheduled for June 5-6 in Plymouth.