Two local girls, Ariyon Hightower, 5th grader at Opp Middle School, and Merrill Ann Culverhouse, 4th grader at Opp Elementary School, recently attended the 90th Anniversary Celebration of the Miss Alabama Pageant. The gala honored the current Miss Alabama 2010 Miss Ashley Davis and was held at the historic Tutwiler Hotel in downtown Birmingham.

Hightower, Miss Rising Star to Miss Friendliest City Kendra Studdard, and Culverhouse, Miss Rising Star to Miss Front Porch City Rebecca Hart, each had the opportunity to interact with Miss Alabama and the 48 contestants vying for Miss Alabama 2011. The Miss Alabama Pageant will be held June 11 at Samford University in Birmingham.

Also attending the gala were the girls’ mothers, Mrs. Keena Hightower and Mrs. Susan Culverhouse, and the directors of the two local pageants, Mrs. Janice Hollis and Mrs. Margaret Fox.