BUCHANAN — When 17-year-old Buchanan teenager Cora Schau’s name was called as the winner of Miss Buchanan 2018 and a glittering crown was placed on her head, one of her fellow contestants wiped a few stray tears from her eyes.

However, these were not tears of sadness or disappointment, they were tears of happiness and support.

“I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t stop crying,” said contestant Madison Schau, 17, of her tears. “I was just so excited and happy for her. I’m really proud.”

Madison and Cora, who happen to be twin sisters, competed in the Miss Buchanan 2018 pageant Saturday evening. The twins both walked away with titles, with Cora crowned Miss Buchanan and Madison named both Miss Congeniality and second runner-up to Miss Buchanan.

For the event, the Buchanan High School auditorium was lit up and decorated by tinsel and glittering recreations of classic musical posters to fit the pageant’s theme as a salute to the Tin Shop Theatre in downtown Buchanan. Under the bright lights and clad in evening gowns, seven young women, Madison, Cora, Natalie Thompson, Lucie Behrle, Zoe Mittan, Olivia Riddle and Jessica Lee, showed the city of Buchanan what they had to offer. Thompson was crowned first runner-up to Miss Buchanan.

For Madison and Cora, the pageant, and the work and long practices that accompanied it, was more than just a fun activity. It was a way to grow closer and appreciate family, they said.

“It was so much fun to do this with [Madison],” Cora said. “We talked to each other about everything. I knew all the court really well, but having Madison there, it made it really great.”

Madison added that being able to compete alongside her sister was what made the Miss Buchanan pageant worth it to her.

“I’m really glad to be on the court with my sister,” she said. “I really think that is the best part of it. It was nice to have someone to do the whole thing with.”

While some might think competing against each other for the title of Miss Buchanan might cause some sibling rivalry, the twins dispelled those notions, saying that they coudl not be happier for each other.

“I know she’s the best person for the job,” Madison said of Cora’s win. “I wouldn’t have anyone else be [Miss Buchanan].”

Cora echoed her sister’s statements saying that she is happy for Madison’s wins as Miss Congeniality and second runner-up and that she would have been just as excited had Madison took home the title of Miss Buchanan.

“We don’t care about things like that,” Cora said. “If she wins, it’s a win for me.”

Both said that it was the support of their parents, Michelle and Robert Schau, that allowed them to compete at the same time.

Michelle said she encouraged her daughters to take part in the pageant because of the skills they learn through pageant preparation, like public speaking, and the scholarship opportunities.

She added that she was excited for her daughters’ wins and the scholarships they will get to use for their college education, with Cora being awarded a $1,500 scholarship and Madison being awarded a $500 scholarship.

“I’m just really glad that they were both able to win something,” she said. “I think they were rooting for each other.”

Both Cora and Madison said they are excited to spend the next year on the Miss Buchanan court together and to go on new adventures.

Cora added that she is also excited for her role as Miss Buchanan, saying that it was something she never expected and that it was out of her comfort zone to compete.

In her new position, she said hopes she and her sister can be role models to young girls in Buchanan.

“Miss Buchanan, to me, is a really strong independent woman that can be a role model to young girls,” Cora said. “I like feeling that younger girls can look up to me. Right now, my goal is to show that if I can do it, anyone can do it.”