Hostess Kristen Johnson Davis said Danville has been a great host city for the pageant.
Southern hospitality
Boyle County Judge-Executive Harold McKinney welcomed visitors to Boyle County and Danville.
"I trust you've had a wonderful time here," he said.
Ashley Miller, a 25-year-old contestant from Louisville, said she enjoyed her weekend in Danville.
"It has super southern feel to it, which I like," she said.
Carroll, one of seven local contestants in the teen pageant, said she was proud of herself for making it to the Top 15.
"I couldn't have worked any harder," she said.
But at the end of the pageant, the crown and the sash went to Taylor Hubbard, a 14-year-old from London.
The 5-foot, 11-inch freshman at North Laurel High School said she was surprised when she won the competition because all of the other girls were so pretty.
After participating in the pageant, Hubbard said she had to finish biology and chemistry homework for school.
Ean Whitney Cox, a 23-year-old Lancaster resident, has been competing in pageants since she was young, but this was her first time trying for the Miss Kentucky USA title.
Cox said her mother and sister both had luck as homecoming queens. "I've always wanted a crown," she said.
A 2008 graduate from Eastern Kentucky University, Cox plans on going to graduate school at Eastern to be an art teacher. She just completed an internship in Washington, D.C., with Kentucky Congressman Ben Chandler's office, she said.
She decided to compete in September but has always been preparing. Moments before the pageant began, nerves were starting to take over.
"It's intimidating," she said. "And the moment is here."
Kindra Clark wins
Families and friends nearly filled the Norton Center, cheering and shouting for their contestant. Parents wore buttons and ribbons supporting their daughters. At the end of the night, the crown for Miss Kentucky USA went to Mount Washington resident Kindra Clark.
Among the tears of joy from the newly crowned winners were the bittersweet tears from Maria Montgomery, who took her final walk as Miss Kentucky USA and crowned the new winner.
In her farewell speech, Montgomery advised the new winner to handle the crown with care, because its power can be surprising. But with the crown comes the power to make a difference, she said.
Miss Kentucky Teen local contestants:
Jordyn Bocook of Liberty
Allison Carroll of Danville
Morgan Crutchfield of Lancaster
Casey Galbreath of Danville
Katie Lester of Danville
Kandyce Montgomery of Danville
Olivia Nichols of Harrodsburg
Miss Kentucky local contestants:
Ean Whitney Cox of Lancaster
Andi Martin of Waynesburg
