By Stephen Smoot
If Pendleton County adores one kind of event more than any other, that would probably be pageants.
Other areas have a few here and there, but here pageantry serves as part of the culture. Young women and girls line up to compete with nervous parents or family members supporting and cheering them on. Organizations and individuals put on first class events that often help to raise needed money for a broad spectrum of causes.
And in two months, a product of Pendleton County pageantry will ascend into the national spotlight to compete for one of the world’s biggest crowns.
On May 31 and June 1, Franklin native Caylie Simmons competed with other young women from across the state to earn the Miss West Virginia USA title and the right to represent the Mountain State in the August nationals. The road to that success, however, took a long time and countless hours of work.
Simmons shared that “I’ve been doing pageants since I was seven years old.” From local beginnings, the West Virginia University graduate and dental hygienist learned to shine on stage.
She explained that the local pageant culture “is really strong because we come from an area that is very rural.” Since few extracurricular activities present themselves to young people, those that are well-organized and executed serve as a huge draw.
“People look forward to them,” Simmons said, adding that “they become invested.” Additionally, those who earn titles and other accolades receive community respect and admiration. Major title contenders and winners especially, such as those who do well at the Treasure Mountain Festival, Tri-County Fair, and West Virginia Poultry Festival, are “seen as role models in our county,” she said.
Not unlike the experience that many have with Future Farmers of America, competing in pageants puts young women in front of crowds, asks them to represent themselves, their families, and their schools well, and learn needed life skills to do well.
“The first thing is to challenge yourself,” Simmons said. One of the most daunting aspects for anyone, especially beginners, lies in “putting yourself up there to be judged.” Those who compete regularly, she stated, develop confidence, learn public speaking, and can make friends and connections throughout the state, depending on where they enter.
Simmons at 16 won the Treasure Mountain Queen title and also placed as first runner-up at the Tri-County Fair. She also took the West Virginia Poultry Festival crown. More than 30 crowns have graced Simmons’ head throughout the years.
But the “big one,” as she describes it, was Pendleton County High School Queen. Simmons stated that she was happy to hear that it had returned after the pandemic.
To enter the Miss West Virginia USA competition, a young lady needs to hold a title. Simmons entered on the strength of winning Fairmont’s Three Rivers Festival pageant. Wining a crown such as that provides help in that the festival sponsored Simmons in the Miss West Virginia USA event.
Simmons’ road to the state title did not come easily, but with perseverance and faith. She had competed three times prior to winning this year. In her winning effort, she decided to relax, enjoy the experience, and live by the maxim, “if this is for me, it won’t pass me by.”
Competitors must score well in three categories – the interview, fitness, and evening wear. When asked about her favorite, Simmons didn’t hesitate, answering, “Definitely the interview.” She explained that it helps the judges “to know you personally and make a connection.” Also, the contestant can share their passions in life and “know your inner beauty rather than your outer beauty.”
Winning Miss West Virginia USA comes with a responsibility to serve. For the dental hygienist, the cause of promoting youth dental health in West Virginia just came naturally. She created a program called “Miles For Smiles” in which she will take dental health education and donated supplies to at least one school in each of the state’s 55 counties.
Simmons’ goal lies in “educating on the importance of taking care of teeth and oral health in general.” She has already started reaching out to businesses and nonprofits to get supplies needed for the project.
Every pageant winner achieves their goal only through hard work and preparation. Simmons has “top notch sponsors to help . . . prepare.” She says that they will work on her stage walk, continue to improve her interview techniques, and also focus on maintaining her health and fitness properly to be “the healthiest version of myself that I can be.”
“I’m a pretty good example of chasing your dream,” Simmons stated, elaborating by saying “I had doubts in myself and wanted to give up,” but “if you have a goal, keep your eyes on that goal.”
She added that “when it’s your time, it will happen. It’s all God’s timing.”
Family tragedy also motivated her to continue to work hard and do the best she could at her love. She shared how she lost her brother when she was 20 and he was only five years her senior. Simmons described him as her biggest fan, telling her that someday she would be Miss West Virginia USA, then Miss USA.
For those young Pendleton County ladies who aspire to follow in her footsteps, Simmons advises to be “unique.”
“It’s important to know,” she said, “that often people think girls should strictly be pageant girls.” Simmons said that she benefited from a “multifaceted” childhood with “lots of hobbies” because “it makes a pageant girl unique.” This pageant girl could share her dedication to teaching, as well as her appreciation of the bounty of recreational opportunities in Pendleton County, such as her loves of hiking and fishing.
Simmons will compete on national television for the Miss USA title on Aug. 4.
