Apple Festival Princess Pageant brings contestants out of their shell

ELYRIA — Four local girls took the stage and left their comfort zones on Saturday to show off their talents and creativity as they competed in the 2025 Elyria Apple Festival Princess Pageant. Elyria High School senior Elianna Mellen was named the 2025 Apple Queen, a year after she finished as the first runner-up in 2024. "I feel so good, I literally want to cry right now," Mellen said. "My aunt told me to put myself out of my comfort zone, because I've been trying to do that more, this actually really did, and I made a lot of new friends doing it." The first runner-up was Elyria junior Iyanah Barker, who also took home the award for best costume with her "apple tree" costume, which she said she chose because she's always been the tallest girl in her grade. "I feel super good, I am very excited and very happy that I did this," Barker said. Barker said she successfully ran for homecoming court last year, and wanted to try and do something similar by competing in the pageant. She said despite that experience, the pageant was nerve-wracking. "I do plays, and I thought I would be used to that feeling, but it is still always there, I was really nervous," Barker said. "But seeing my friends and my family here supporting me definitely helped." Dyllan Schneider, a junior at Midview High School, was named the second runner-up and also claimed the Miss Congeniality award, an award usually given in pageants to the friendliest, most outgoing contestant who is seen as a leader in the contest by her peers. "I did this because I wanted to create new friendships, create new bonds and just be an impact on my community," Schneider said. "I just was myself, I went out there and showed up, showed out and that's all you can do." The third runner-up was Alana Smith, a sophomore at the Lorain County Joint Vocational School and cheerleader at EHS. The pageant was overseen by Master of Ceremonies Matthew Van Wormer, as the contestants participated in a costume contest, talent showcase and formal presentation. Barker opened the costume portion of the pageant with her apple tree costume, featuring a bright green base, vines and a few apples which would eventually prove enough to claim the best costume award. Smith wore a costume representing a basket of apples, featuring a few Granny Smith apples, which Van Wormer announced were her favorite. Schneider was a bright green, giant Ring Pop, with a basket of Ring Pops for children in the audience. Mellen wore a bright red, apple-themed majorette outfit. The majorette outfit was a sign of more to come from Mellen, as during the talent portion she twirled and danced with three batons, occasionally throwing them high in the air and catching them on their way down. Schneider and Smith both performed cheers, dancing to the fight songs of Midview and Elyria, respectively. Schneider left the stage and the crowd looking on cleared space in the grass for her to perform a tumble. Mellen displayed her singing talent, and when there were technical issues with the backing music she sang on, to the delight of the crowd. During the final portion of the pageant, the contestants came to the stage in formal dresses and answered a random question, before Van Wormer shared more about them and their families. After the judges' scores were tabulated, the contestants joked and laughed together on stage and hugged and supported one another and the awards were handed out. Mellen was crowned by 2024 Apple Queen Emma Lear, who also placed the sashes over the heads of the other competitors. All of the 2025 participants mentioned trying something new and challenging themselves as one of the reasons that they decided to compete in the pageant. "My mom told me about (the pageant) and I thought it would be a fun experience for me to get out of my comfort zone and get better at public speaking," Smith said. "We (the contestants) have known each other and practiced for months on it, so it was just a fun thing to do together." Every participant received prizes for their performance, but as queen Mellen received the grand prize of $500. Mellen said she planned to use the money to purchase more toys for the daycare at which she works, and to help her parents pay for her car, making sure to turn toward her father as she listed the second idea. The pageant is open to residents of Elyria and Elyria Township between the ages of 16 and 25. All those who competed on Saturday encouraged anyone considering signing up next year to take the leap. "Do it, you are going to have so much fun," Schneider said. "Be yourself, show who you are to your community and make an impact, because we all can." Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.