Butler native claims crown
GIBSONIA — Kayla Gallagher was crowned Miss Butler County USA on Sunday night at a pageant at St. Barnabas Health System’s Kean Theatre.
Gallagher, 20, is the daughter of Julie Rogers and Richie Staugh of Butler.
A 2013 honors graduate of Butler High School, she plans to graduate in May as a registered nurse from the Butler County Community College nursing program. She volunteers at the VNA Hospice.
Gallagher now will go on to the 2016 Miss Pennsylvania USA Pageant.
Hope Vitous, the daughter of Robert and Christine Pflugh of Butler, was named first runner-up.
Second runner-up was Mackenzie Thompson, the daughter of Doug and Linda Thompson of Volant.
Gallagher also won Miss Congeniality, and Alyssa Barnhart of Butler was named Miss Photogenic.
The pageant executive director is Marilyn E. Kane with Marilyn Kane as pageant coordinator.
The judges were Corey O’Connor, Pittsburgh City Councilman; Lamont Jones, award-winning fashion editor and stylist; and Bernie Jeschke, 25-year representative and special events coordinator with Mattel.
The master of ceremonies was soap opera star J. Eddie Peck.
The competition for young women aged 17 to 25 is a preliminary to the Miss Pennsylvania USA Pageant, which leads to the nationally televised Miss USA Pageant, part of the Miss Universe Organization, which is an NBC Universal Media and Donald J. Trump joint venture.
