Both Lindon natives, Miss Cedar Breaks Lacey Griffin and Miss Pleasant Grove Lizzy Marchbanks were first and second runner-ups, respectively.

“They’ve been best friends for years,” said Terry Marchbanks, Lizzy’s mother. “We’ve gone to every pageant with Lacey supporting her.”

As young girls, they were Little Miss Lindon royalty together and in 2003, the two friends became Miss Pleasant Grove royalty.

When they both competed again, Lacey won Miss Cedar Breaks as an SUU student and Lizzy took the Miss Pleasant Grove title.

Lacey played “Orange Blossom Special,” a quick fiddling piece, on the violin and her platform was on eating disorders from anorexia to obesity. She was very surprised to become one of the top five.

“She was thrilled to be in the top 10 let alone the top five and then to become first runner up was just a dream come true,” said Teresa Griffin, her mother. This was her daughter’s first time competing on the state level as it was Lizzy’s.

Lizzy’s platform was on Internet safety and her talent was a jazz dance, “My Strongest Suit,” for which she won the talent award in the preliminary competition of the pageant.

“Oh my gosh, did you not see her facefi She was blown away,” Terry Marchbanks said. “We were thrilled. That was a really fun thing for her.”

Both Pleasant Grove and Lindon were represented well with three contestants with Pleasant Grove’s Betsy Passmore as Miss Utah Valley.

Julia Marie Bachison, Miss Utah State Fair, was crowned Miss Utah 2005 and her third runner-up was Marci McKay, Miss Sanpete, with Desirae Ball, Miss Southern Utah University as the fourth runner-up.

Judging was based on talent, interview, swim wear, evening and casual wear in the annual competition. The pageant is a part of the Miss American Scholarship Pageant family and the Miss Utah winner receives numerous scholarships, grants and prizes as well as an opportunity to compete at the national pageant.

There were also new and familiar faces at the pageant. In north Utah County, Stephanie Rhodes from Alpine, a former attendant for Miss American Fork 2002 and Miss Utah County 2003, returned as Miss Timpanogos 2004. Justi Excell and Tiffani Christie also returned to compete on the state level.

The top 10 contestants for the Miss Utah Scholarship Pageant Saturday were Tiffani Christie, Miss UVSC; Emily Hyde, Miss Deseret; Shandra Blake, Miss Washington County; Lizzy Marchbanks, Miss Pleasant Grove; Ashley Conley, Miss Roy; Marci McKay, Miss Sanpete; Lacey Griffin, Miss Cedar Breaks; Julia Marie Bachison, Miss Utah State Fair; Justi Excell, Miss South Jordan; and Desirae Ball, Miss Southern Utah University.

The most advertising sold award, with a $500 scholarship, went to Miss Provo Kristine Stewart. Marchbanks sold the most tickets and won a $1,000 scholarship. The Spirit of Miss Utah, selected by her peers, was Miss Sevier County, Mariah Ellsworth, and she was awarded a $500 scholarship. The Miss America State Community Service Project award — $1,000 scholarship — was given to Miss Duchesne County, Tiara Adrienne Puro.

The Miss America State Academic Award was awarded to Miss Washington County, Shandra Nichole Blake and she received a $1,000 scholarship. Miss Utah Quality of Life Award with its $1,000 scholarship was given to Miss Tooele County, Stephanie Adams. First runner-up for the Quality of Life Award was Puro and second runner-up was Miss Spanish Fork, Annalece Boothe.

Nonfinalist awards went to Miss Utah County, Holly Jones; Miss Richfield, Kalei Poulson; Miss Utah Valley, Betsy Passmore; and Miss American Fork, Sara Jane McKinney. They each received a $250 scholarship award.

This story appeared in North County on page A3.