By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Breckyn Granell, left front, daughter of Adam and Kristen Granell of Geneseo; Hensley Powell, daughter of James and Kara Powell, Kewanee; Marissa Nelson, back left, daughter of Brenda and Joel Nelson, Geneseo; and at back right, Mollie Parr, daughter of Tanahya Parr and Brett Parr, Geneseo, were crowned queens in the 2024 Miss World Festival held in Kewanee.
Marissa Nelson will compete for Miss Illinois 2025; and Mollie Parr will compete for Miss Illinois Teen 2025, on June 28 in Marion, IL.
Their Little Sister Queens, Breckyn Granell and Hensley Powell, will be given crowns and will serve as Miss Illinois Jewels at the event.
Jeanna Moore, of Kewanee, Executive Director for the Miss World Festival Queen Pageants, said, “Historically, the Miss America program only allowed prelim pageant winners to compete and over the years rules have changed. They have allowed Festival Queens to attend and compete At Large. The main focus for the Miss America Program is based on the young ladies CSI which stands for Community Service Initiative. Marissa Nelson, who is competing in the Miss Illinois program, has chosen Serving Our Veterans as her CSI and Mollie Parr, who is competing for Miss Illinois Teen, chose Mentoring Our Youth as her CSI.”
“The biggest accomplishments both young ladies have made has been stepping out of their comfort zones and into public speaking about something they are passionate about,” Moore added.
The Miss World Festival Queen Pageants will celebrate the 37th year on Aug. 2 of this year and entries for the 2025 Miss World Festival Queen Pageant are being accepted. More information is available from Moore at 309-540-8588; or Director Stephanie Smith at 309-883-9031; or Co-Director Kailey Senner on Facebook. The Pageant Facebook page is Miss World Festival Queen Pageants. Contributed Photo
