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NILES — A new royal court has been crowned to represent the Niles community.

When the dust settled, Amelia Rodgers was crowned Miss Niles 2024 Saturday evening at Niles High School. Paxton Daniel was crowned Mr. Niles 2024.

“It’s a big accomplishment,” Rodgers said. “I’m just amazed.”

The event was the zenith of the Miss Niles pageant, in which Little Miss and Mr., Junior Teen Miss and Mr., Teen Miss and Mr. and Miss and Mr. Niles titles were awarded by a panel of judges. Halfman inherits the crown from Miss Niles 2023 Audrey Dixon.

Rodgers is a senior at Niles High School and is dual-enrolled at Southwestern Michigan College. She competes on the Niles girls golf team and is a member of the varsity cheerleading team. When she is not in school, Rodgers volunteers to clean local parks and serves food to the homeless.

Rodgers also enjoys dancing for Miss Michele and Co. and credited her dance instructor “Miss Maddie” for encouraging her to participate in the pageant.

“She’s one of my biggest inspirations,” she said. “She got me into pageants and one day, I decided I was going to do it.”

When asked what she would like to be known for, Rodgers said she would like to be known as a good person who is an inspiration to everyone else.

Contestants from each category performed a dance routine before taking part in two formal presentations, a few questions and a fast walkthrough.

Rodgers is looking forward to getting closer with her court and representing Niles in the 2024 Blossomtime Festival in April. Established in 1906, Blossomtime is Michigan’s oldest and largest multi-community festival.

“I have liked hanging out with them so far and I know it’s gonna get better.”

Joining Rodgers in Blossomtime festivities will be Daniel. A senior at Niles High School, Daniel is currently top 10 in his class. He has been voted captain of the tennis team two years in a row and received a “most improved” award as a sophomore. He has also received outstanding student awards for chemistry and spanish.

Miss Niles Pageant results

Miss Teen Niles

Second runner-up – Izabelle Nelson

First runner-up – Gracie Jackson

Winner – Rylee Parks 

Miss Niles

Miss Congeniality – Delandah VanDyke

Second runner-up – Natalie Wilds

First runner-up – Genesis Downing 

Winner – Amelia Rodgers

*Little Miss/Mr. and Miss Jr. Teen will be added shortly