Niles High junior Sasha Zidar was emotional after being named Miss Niles Sunday. Leader photo/KIM WYNN

Seventeen-year-old Sasha Zidar was treated like royalty at school Monday, less than 24 hours after being crowned Miss Niles.

“As soon as I walked in, people were screaming ‘Miss Niles, Miss Niles.’ All this attention — I didn’t expect it,” said Zidar, a junior at Niles High School.

Zidar succeeded Maureen Craig for the title of Miss Niles Sunday night.

“I have always wanted the opportunity to become more involved in the community,” Sasha said.

Ten young women carried themselves with poise amongst the glitz and glamour of the stage decorated in a movie theme in a nearly full auditorium at Niles High School.

The competition was extra tough this year as six girls, instead of five, were named to the second phase of competition, which involved answering a question about which movie most inspired them.

Sasha cited “Cast Away,” starring Tom Hanks, while several competitors named “Forrest Gump,” also starring Hanks. “Alf” got a mention along with “Finding Nemo.”

Zidar said she admired how Hanks’ character in “Cast Away” suffered through many tribulations but “in the end, he’s happy.”

Zidar said she would use the title of Miss Niles to help promote awareness for juvenile diabetes. Zidar’s young cousins were diagnosed with diabetes four years ago.

“Watching them grow up with it really showed me how serious the disease is,” she said.

Earlier in the evening, Craig celebrated the end of her reign with her court.

“I was a changed girl from the moment I put on this crown,” she said.

The contestants chose Kayla Flenar, an 18-year-old freshman at Southwestern Michigan College, as Miss Congeniality.

Second-runner up was Monica Bielski, a 19-year-old freshman at SMC.

First runner-up was Allie Schoenleber, a 17-year-old senior at Niles High School.

Tori DeMeyer, 7, of Eagle Lake Elementary School, was named Little Miss Niles earlier in the day.

Blossomtime Queen Sorority announced

Are you a past queen of a Blossomtime-sponsored pageant?

If so, you could be eligible to join the newly formed Southwestern Michigan Blossomtime Queen Sorority.

The sorority will hold meetings once a month and focus on supporting Blossomtime pageants and doing community service.

Donna (Flewelling) Bradfield, Miss Niles 1968, said to be eligible one must have been crowned queen at a Blossomtime-sponsored pageant and successfully turned the crown over to a successor.

To join, or for more information, contact Lynne Cobianco at swmbqsorority@comcast.net or Bradfield at chi92@comcast.net.