Mattie Slade Avants was named Queen of the Lions Club Beauty Pageant – one of the state’s longest running pageants – held over the weekend at the Lincoln Civic Center. She is the daughter of David and Tiffany Avants.

Originally known as the Lions Water Carnival when it began in 1943, the annual pageant has been a Brookhaven tradition for more than seven decades and is the club’s primary fundraising event.

PHOTO BY JOHNNY SMITH / Mattie Slade Avants was named Queen of the Lions Club Beauty Pageant during Saturday night’s competition at the Lincoln Civic Center.

The funds raised help the club provide vision checks for local school children, as well as other club projects.

This year’s contestants competed in 10 age groups ranging from up to 1 year olds all the way to 16-20 year olds.

In addition to Avants, the winners of the 16-20 year old division included second place honoree Nealie Rebecca Shelton, daughter of Gary and Carla Shelton, and third place winner Miranda Suzanne Leggett, daughter of Samson and Sue Leggett,

Photographs of the winners in each division will be included in the Sunday edition of The Daily Leader.