Winners announced in Miss Douglas County, Miss Carson Valley contests

Ashton Sunseri was named Miss Douglas County 2008 and Christina Keegan was named Miss Carson Valley 2008 at the Brewery Arts Center performance hall in Carson City on April 6.

Sunseri and Keegan will go on to compete in the Miss Nevada pageant at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno on July 18. The winner of the Miss Nevada pageant goes on to the 2008 Miss America contest.

The 10 contestants in the 2008 Miss Douglas County and Miss Carson Valley pageant answered on-stage questions and were judged in swimsuit, talent and evening wear competitions.

The event was attended by Miss Douglas County 2007 Christina Swartz and Miss Carson Valley 2007 Julie Jones.

Judges were Kevin P. Walsh, Dana Lockhart, Blanca Castillo, Nicole Crossman, Deyanira Lozano, Chris Bashaw and Debbie Beemer. Master of ceremonies was Tod Young.

Contestants

Denai Neilander, 18,

Platform: Teen driving awareness

Talent: tumbling routine

Nicole Mehrer, 17

Platform: The fight against childhood cancer

Talent: pointe dance

Chelsea Merrill, 18

Platform: Promoting student volunteering within the community

Talent: dance

Sarah Yacorzynski, 17

Platform: Juvenile diabetes awareness

Talent: singing

Alyssa Todd, 17

Platform: Down syndrome awareness

Talent: martial arts

Krystina Olson, 17

Platform: cure for diabetes

Talent: singing

Krista Castro, 18

Platform: Feed the community, feed the world

Talent: dramatic monologue

Tracy Baker, 18

Platform: Youth drug, tobacco and alcohol prevention programs

Talent: singing

Ashton Sunseri, 17

Platform: The fight against peer pressure by staying involved in positive activities

Talent: dance

Christina Keegan, 22

Platform: Strength over silence: rape education and prevention

Talent: ballet en pointe