Sutherland crowned Watermelon Queen

RUSSELLVILLE — The 2025 Franklin County Watermelon Beauty Pageant brought sparkle and excitement to the Russellville City Schools Auditorium as participants from babies to young adults competed for crowns across multiple age divisions. This year’s top honor went to Jaci Sha Sutherland, who won the 18–21-yearold category designated each year as the Franklin County Watermelon Queen.

Sutherland, a recent graduate of Phil Campbell High School, lives in Phil Campbell. She plans to attend Northwest Shoals Community College to complete her basics before transferring to Wallace State to study dental hygiene. She said that winning the title was a long-time dream. “It feels good. It’s always been a goal to win this age division,” she said. “Ever since I’ve been in the younger division, I’ve always looked up to everybody else.” Sutherland first participated in the pageant as a young child, age 6 or 7, and competed again last year. She has also held other titles, including Dream Girl and Miss 911. Though she may have looked poised and confident on stage, she admitted the journey to this year’s crown wasn’t easy. She had recently injured her leg and was embarrassed about walking in a medical boot. “I wanted to back out so bad,” she said. “I didn’t want anybody to see it. But my mom told me, ‘Just do it — we’ve already paid for it, and your sister’s in it too.’ So I did.”

Her perseverance paid off and made the win even sweeter when her younger sister, Knoxlee Mae Taylor, also took home a crown in the 8–9-year-old division.

“She started screaming when I won,” Sutherland recalled. “She came up to me and said, ‘I knew you could do it.’ That made it really special.”

Their mother, Shayla Taylor, said she was thrilled to see both daughters crowned on the same day.

“We were so excited and grateful,” she said. “They had never won on the same day before.”

“She was so upset about the boot,” her mother said. “But the slit in her dress was on the other side, and she ended up being able to walk in borrowed low heels. She did great.”

When asked what she enjoys most about pageants, Sutherland said, “I love dressing up, doing my makeup, being with friends, and just getting to feel pretty.”

She said pageants have helped her build confidence and learn that “it doesn’t matter how pretty you are or how you walk, just doing it and being yourself is enough.”

She encouraged others to give it a try: “Never give up. Just be yourself.” Outgoing 2024 Franklin County Watermelon Queen Annie Willis passed the crown with bittersweet emotions.

“It was an honor to represent Franklin County,” said Willis, who just finished her junior year at the University of North Alabama and is beginning her first year of teaching art at Russellville Elementary School.

She said one of her favorite memories was “spending the day at the Watermelon Festival, passing out watermelon and meeting many different people.”

Willis said she tried to hold herself to a high standard, knowing little girls were watching.

“Always be your best,” she said, “because you are not only a queen but representing the people who make up your county.”

She described her reign as “fun, fulfilling and memorable.”

The list of pageant winners from oldest to youngest age divisions:

18–21 Years

Queen Jaci Sha Sutherland

First alternate Emily L. Smith

Second alternate Cameron Alyse Hall

16–17 Years

Queen Kylie Mae Mather

First alternate Cami E. Carson

Second alternate Melanie Gonzalez Rodriguez

13–15 Years

Queen Abrianna McCulloch

First alternate Daylee Grace Trapp

Second alternate Libby Sutherland

10–12 Years

Queen Aubrey Dean Watts

First alternate Avery R. Burks

Second alternate Ava Brooke Snow

8–9 Years

Queen Knoxlee Mae Taylor

First alternate Jacie-Mae Myrick

Second alternate Paizlee Ann Hammond

7 Years

Queen Savannah Nichole Austin

First alternate Claira Beth Ezzell

Second alternate Corde L. Holland

6 Years

Queen Ruby Elizabeth Harper

First alternate Willa Marie Hood

Second alternate Elizabeth Miller

4–5 Years

Queen Harlow-Anne S. Hayles

First alternate Kinsley Jo Vandiver

Second alternate Arya Beth Mansell

3 Years (June– December)

Queen Akari Rae Smith

First alternate Joselyn R. Barnes

Second alternate Rowan Kinsley Staggs

3 Years (January– May)

Queen Natalie Blair Kelly

First alternate Andrew Sydney Hayes

Second alternate Jasie Brooke Johnson

2 Years

Queen Mattie Paige Cummings

First alternate Savannah Marie Strickland

Second alternate Elaina Rae Brown

19–23 Months

Queen Alexandria Jo Merhoff

First alternate Mallory Blake Ingram

Second alternate Memphis Rose Reynolds

16–18 Months

Queen Stella Jade Devaney

First alternate Posie Ann Stancil

Second alternate Lily Olivia Miguel

12–15 Months

Queen RubyAnn Glynn Sparks

First alternate Brighton Grace Richardson

Second alternate Amaya Brianne Chaney

6–11 Months

Queen Elora Jane Galloway

First alternate Palmer Reese Welch

Second alternate Josie Dawn Wells

0–5 Months

Queen Isla R. Adams

First alternate Blair Hicks

Second alternate Elsie Blair Burgett