The Night of a 1,000 Stars was a continuous stream of talent, sparkling smiles and the grace and beauty of 10 potential Misses.

The 2009 Miss Graham County pageantry culminated in the crowning of the beautiful Stephanie Bryce, who played the piano for her talent and promoted skin cancer awareness and prevention. She was joined by nine other local young women who danced, sang, played and performed monologues or comedy readings.

All of the young women were the epitome of style and beauty, but four besides Bryce caught the eyes and hearts of the judges. They were first runner-up Shay Sturm, second runner-up Megan Abalos, third runner-up Helen Lucero and fourth runner-up Chelsea Nielsen. Nonfinalist winners were Gia Merrifield, who won awards for quality of life and interview; Julia Mounce, who performed an energetic acrobatic dance; and Jacqueline Nickale Borboa, who won Miss Photogenic.

Bryce takes her first walk as Miss Graham County 2009. Photo by Aimee Staten

Several local performers of song and dance kept the audience clapping and tapping their toes between pageant competitions. Some of the crowd favorites were Adam Crohn, one of the show’s producers, Shirley Turner, Carl and Sharon Watson.

Returning as co-hosts were Wes and Clay Hargis, who joked about their bus tour of the Gila Valley with 2008 Miss Graham County Clare Smith. They even had a slide show to prove they had taken the tour to many of the Valley’s well-known destinations: Dairy Queen, the middle of Highway 70 in front of Jerry’s Restaurant, down a shaft at the mine and slowly sinking in Roper Lake. In each photo, the two hosts wore tuxes and the Miss a formal gown, and their smiles never dimmed (or changed, for that matter) in the obviously Photoshopped events.

The night also paid tribute to the pageant’s departing director, Ann Ellsworth, who was presented flowers and speeches at the last show of her seven-year stint with the pageant.