Morgantown Crowns New Royalty
Miss Morgantown Winners and Becky Hankins. PHOTO | Beverly Bonilla
Story and Pictures by Beverly Bonilla
The 2026 Miss Morgantown Pageant and Festival Kick Off Summer Celebrations started June 5th, at the Eva Hawes Building at the City Park.
The Pageant started with Mayor Billy Phelps recognizing Morgantown resident Conley Moore. Conley Moore was recently honored for her outstanding efforts to raise awareness about autoimmune diseases across Kentucky. Through her dedication and advocacy, Moore successfully helped secure an official proclamation from the Governor of Kentucky recognizing March 2026 as Autoimmune Awareness Month. Her work has helped educate the public about the challenges faced by millions of individuals living with autoimmune conditions and encouraged greater understanding and support. In recognition of her achievement, Mayor Billy Phelps presented Moore with a proclamation honoring her commitment to community service and public awareness. Her efforts were praised for making a positive impact both locally and throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Contestants of the Miss Morgantown pageant were participating for the titles of Miss Morgantown, Teen Miss Morgantown, Pre-Teen Miss Morgantown, and Little Miss Morgantown. Miss Morgantown received $500, Miss Teen Morgantown received $250, Miss Pre-Teen Morgantown received $100 and Little Miss Morgantown received $50.
The winner of the Little Miss Morgantown was Cailyx Jackson, 1st Runner-Up Wren Young and 2nd Runner-Up Eden Porter. The winner of Pre-Teen Miss Morgantown was Layla Vincent, 1st Runner-Up Evelyn Porter and 2nd Runner-Up was a tie between Jakelyn Hernandez Tomas and Aubree Morgan. The winner of Teen Miss Morgantown was Eliza Lynch, 1st Runner-Up was Georgia Grace Harrison and 2nd Runner-Up was Graceyn Evans. The winner of Miss Morgantown was Ann Marie Skaggs and 1st Runner-Up was Audra House.
Following the pageant, attendees gathered in City Park to enjoy an evening of entertainment as the Roots and Rhythm Festival officially kicked off when the Rose Band took the stage and provided music that kept the crowd dancing and celebrating throughout the evening. Community members enjoyed the beautiful weather, great music and fellowship with friends and neighbors. The event marked a successful start to the summer festivals season and showcased the strong sense of community spirit that continues to make Morgantown a special place to live and celebrate.
