A local mother and daughter recently captured crowns while competing together in the national AmeriFest pageant.

Juli Lewis won AmeriFest Princess in her age division while her daughter Annie Pearl was crowned First Runner Up in her age division.

“I also won Miss Congeniality for the whole pageant out of 205 contestants,” Lewis said. “It was a dream come true for me. I was ecstatic.”

“Ever since I watched the Miss Congeniality move I thought it would be awesome to win Miss Congeniality in a pageant, so my dream came true,” she added.

Lewis also captured the Spirit Award for the whole pageant. The Spirit Award promotes sportsmanship and friendship and was sponsored by Pageantry Magazine. For winning the Spirit Award Lewis will be featured in an issue of Pageantry Magazine and will receive a one-year subscription for free.

Both the Miss Congeniality and Spirit Awards were voted on by the other pageant contestants, which Lewis said made winning them all the more special.

“I even cried on stage because I was so overwhelmed with happiness for winning both awards,” she said.

For the pageant, Annie Pearl, who will turn 3 years old next month, competed in the beauty and personality events. Juli participated in the opening dance and introduction number for the pageant and competed in private interview, evening gown, and on-stage interview events.

The AmeriFest national pageant was held in late July in Sevierville. The pageant marked the first time Lewis and her daughter have competed in the same pageant.

Lewis said she really enjoyed the chance to compete in a pageant with her daughter and she is looking forward to their next joint pageant, which will be the Miss Spectacular America Pageant that will be held in late September.

Lewis said she and Annie Pearl would like to thank all of the local individuals and businesses who have supported and sponsored them along the way as they compete in pageants.