Unlike the Miss America competition in Atlantic City, there was no swimsuit competition for the title of Lawerence County Fair queen.

Tuesday, July 11, 2000

Unlike the Miss America competition in Atlantic City, there was no swimsuit competition for the title of Lawerence County Fair queen.

In fact, before the opening ceremonies at the fair, the three girls competing for the title hadn’t appeared before an audience as contestants. The actual fair queen competition took place a week prior to the Lawerence County Fair, at a Fire Station in Rome.

There, three judges conducted interviews and a modeling session to select the next fair queen. Their decision was a secret until Monday’s opening ceremony of the fair.

There, Olivia Jones of Ironton was crowned 2000 Lawrence County Fair queen.

Winning the Lawerence County Fair queen competition is just a start for Miss Jones. The 17-year-old has other pageant dreams.

"I haven’t been in a pageant since I was 9," she said. "This is my first in years."

Miss Jones entered the competition on the encouragement of a friend, who also competes in pageants. She said her friend suggested the fair queen competition for a first try.

"I was very nervous," she said. "But now I have one foot in the door. I hope that I’ll keep competing and winning."

As fair queen, Miss Jones will be present at the fair all week and will help to judge various competitions and award prizes.

And while she will relish all her 4-H duties, she does have one place she particularly wants to stop this week.

"What I’m really looking forward to, is seeing the baby camel at the petting zoo," Miss Jones said. "I think that is going to be one of my favorite parts of the fair."