In pageantry, people often spend thousands of dollars on their competition and appearance wardrobe. Durant High School senior Kennedie Clinton, who was crowned Miss Lakeland Teen 2024 on March 9 at Lakeland’s Polk Theater, is proof that pageant queens can save money, and the environment, and still win titles.
Her opening number ensemble included a pair of pants she found in her closet that she’d owned for two years. She bought a bejeweled Zara top from Goodwill that only cost $4 but was missing a few sequins.
Not a problem for Clinton. “I just glued on the sequins that were missing and sparkled it up more,” she said.
Her talent gown was a dress she purchased several years ago on Queenly, a secondhand site for gently-used gowns that she wore when she was a contestant in the Strawberry Festival Junior Royalty Pageant. Her evening gown was given to her last year when she was the 2023 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen.
Clinton spoke about her platform on her Instagram channel SustainableSmiles2024. “I posted a reel about how I was able to stay sustainable with my fashion and still win,” she said.
Clinton, who received a scholarship and will move on to compete for the title of Miss Florida Teen on June 29 at RP Funding Center in Lakeland, is excited to take her platform to the next level of competition. “I’m really excited to continue to stay sustainable at the Miss Florida level,” she said.
Five Miss America-certified judges crowned six contestants at the three-hour long pageant, including Miss Lakeland, Miss Lakeland Teen, Miss Polk County, Miss Polk County Teen, Miss Swan City and Miss Swan City Teen.
The contestants were judged on a private interview (30%), fitness (20%), talent (20%), evening wear (20%) and on-stage question (10%).
Plant City resident Emma Poole, a student at Florida Southern College, was named Miss Lakeland first runner-up. She also won the People’s Choice award.
For Poole, stepping on stage at the Polk Theater was a full-circle moment, having attended a Small College Basketball Hall of Fame tournament press conference there two years before where, as the only woman at the conference, did not want to speak up and ask a question to the panel. “It’s been two years since that press conference, four years since I competed in a pageant and three years since I put on that dress, but it feels like it hadn’t been a day,” she said. “I feel more heard and affirmed than I have ever felt after a pageant.”
Jennifer Chamberlain, Executive Director of Crowning Leaders, is excited for all the contenders moving on in the competition. “I know they’re going to do great,” she said. “We’ve got competitors.”