MENTONE - Olivia Fuller was crowned Miss Mentone 2024 Saturday night during concluding activities of the three-day Egg Festival.
Jayden Yarian was named second runner-up, with Jetta Hughes as first runner-up.
Before the crowning ceremony took place, Anna Boggs said she’s been organizing the Miss Mentone pageant for the last 10 years and she passed it over to Bri McBrier this year so she can work with the Mentone Chamber of Commerce on other things.
McBrier was Miss Mentone 2018.
“I just showed her what to do and she did it all herself this year, and she was amazing,” Boggs said.
She recognized two young women for their enthusiasm and excitement for the community and for wanting to help more in the community - Miss Mentone 2023 Jasmine Fuller and McBrier.
“I just want to give them a big hand and thank them for their excitement and their enthusiasm and wanting to be a part of our community,” Boggs stated.
Being handed the microphone, McBrier thanked the families for supporting the queen contestants by going through “every car wash, every bake sale all through Mentone days. You guys are the biggest support system, so you guys are all amazing.”
McBrier said she hopes to grow the program and get “more and more girls” to participate. “Three is amazing, but the more the merrier,” she said.
Each contestant was then briefly interviewed, with Hughes first.
Hughes is going to be a senior at Tippecanoe Valley High School. She plans to graduate early in December, work full time and then get her realtor license shortly after.
As for her favorite part about running for Miss Mentone, she said, “I would have to say going through the parade today, just seeing the little girls and being called a princess and just seeing their reactions. I started crying through the parade because they were so cute. But that was my favorite part.”
Jetta Hughes is the daughter of Storm and Dustin Severns.
Olivia Fuller is going to be a freshman at Tippecanoe Valley this fall. When she graduates, she said she wants to go into modeling.
As for her favorite part about running, she said it was “getting to talk to everyone in the community. We have a really good community.”
Olivia Fuller is the daughter of Tara and Chad Fuller.
Yarian also will be a freshman at TVHS this fall. After high school, her plans are to go to college and become a teacher.
The parade was “definitely” her favorite part about running for Miss Mentone because she liked seeing all the little kids and how excited they got.
Jayden Yarian is the daughter of Wes and Shelly Yarian.
With the help of Miss Mentone 2023 Jasmine Fuller, McBrier announced Yarian as second runner-up, Hughes as first runner-up and then Olivia Fuller as Miss Mentone 2024.
“Congratulations to all the girls,” Boggs said. “They all did wonderful and they’re all so super sweet, and they all had really good families that were here that backed them all the way.”
After the ceremony, Olivia Fuller said winning felt “really well. It feels really good. I’m glad to win, I’m glad to have this experience.”
As the reigning queen for the next year, she said she will tell people how good the Mentone community is, represent how good the community is and work to make it an even better one.