Pageant crowns run in family
Lyric Beth Ackelson, 20, was crowned Miss Butler County at Succop Theater on the Butler County Community College campus.
It was the same title won by Lyric's mother, then Beth Taylor, in 1988.
“We are the first mother-daughter combination to win the Miss Butler County title,” said Lyric Ackelson, the daughter of Beth and Mike Ackelson of Butler. She has two brothers, Brendan, 17, and Trevor, 11.
The Slippery Rock University junior majoring in theater arts administration said her mother proved invaluable in preparing her for the different stages of competition: swimsuit, talent, evening gown, on-stage interview and interview.
“She had a lot of advice to give me. She was super helpful because this was the first time I competed in the Miss America system,” said Lyric.
She was one of five women selected to compete in the Miss Pennsylvania and Miss Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen/America contests.
They will advance to the Miss Pennsylvania/America and Miss Pennsylvania Outstanding Teen/America pageants.
Elektra Chade Davis, 17, was named Miss Butler County Outstanding Teen/America. The daughter of Howard and Marian Davis of Harmony, she is a junior at Lincoln Park Charter School.
Stephanie Kay Owens, the daughter of Risa and Ronald Owens of Pittsfield, was named Miss Moraine State/America.
The 22-year-old is a 2014 graduate of Gannon University in Erie.
Christy Rose Ryback, 21, was named Miss Mercer County/America. The Clarion University junior is the daughter of Catherine and Greg Rybak of Oil City.
Jayden Moffa, 17, was named Miss Moraine State Outstanding Teen/America.She is the daughter of Denny and Phillene Moffa of Latrobe and a junior at Greater Latrobe Senior High School.“She was a wonderful selection,” said pageant co-director Lucy Mudrick of Ackelson's selection.“It's fun. We get to share the experience together,” said Lyric's mother, Beth Ackelson.“I try to give her advice. She is pretty good on her own. She doesn't need a lot of guidance from me,” she said.“I have been in pageants since I was 6 and won Miss Saxonburg in 2012 and Little Miss Butler County and Junior Miss Butler County, but this was the first time that I have had the chance to move on,” said Lyric.Lyric will compete in the Miss Pennsylvania pageant at the Shady Side Academy in Sewickley June 10-13.Beth Ackleson competed in the Miss Pennsylvania pageant three times.“She had a lot of advice for my interview,” said Lyric of her mother. “Not telling me what to say, but telling me to make eye contact and be confident. She helped me pick out my dresses and swimsuit. She helped me pick my talent.”Lyric, a vocalist, sang “Memories” from the Broadway show, “Cats.”She has had voice training for many years with the Pittsburgh Music Theater, the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera Academy and private voice teachers.Come June and the Miss Pennsylvania competition. Lyric said she will miss her mother's backstage support and advice.“She will be there to support me, but she won't be backstage,” said Lyric.Beth Ackelson said the contestants' families aren't allowed to be involved in hair and makeup during the Miss Pennsylvania contest.But she can do some prep work.“Right now, we are actively looking to find a song that showcases her voice,” she said.Lyric said, “We're looking for a song that highlights my vocal range, is entertaining to the judges and shows my ability to its best potential.”Lyric said her mother neither pushed for nor discouraged her own pageant career.“Actually, it's all because of my grandmother (Bobbie Taylor of Butler), “ said Lyric. “She loves pageants. She likes to see people get up there and perform. We do it for her.”No matter how her progress through the Miss America competition turns out, the 2012 Butler High School graduate has her future plans mapped out.“I'm hoping one day to open my own theater school for little children,” Lyric said.
