MANSFIELD — Miss Ohio pageant contestants hoisted their shoes up high during the annual “Show Us your Shoes Parade” Sunday afternoon.
Miss Oxford Caroline Grace Williams wore a pair of red sparkly high heels. She decorated them with giant letter M’s for Miami University, located in Oxford, Ohio.
“I attended there,” Williams said. “So, I decided to make my shoes about the Red Hawks.”
The fact that the glittery shoes look a little like Dorothy’s from the Wizard of Oz is a bonus.
The parade kicked off at 2 p.m. and lasted more than an hour. A few high school bands and dance groups strutted down the street intermixed with the Miss Ohio Contestants.
Kaitlyn, 5, and Allie, 4, Coffer attended to see their cousin who plays drums.
Harper and Palmer Smith, both 2, were attending their first parade with their grandmother, Laurie Stephenson.
“I’m anxious to see how they’ll react,” Stephenson said while waiting for the parade to start.
Following the parade, contestants met with the community during a photo and autograph session at the Richland Carrousel Park.
Sisters Abbey, Amelia, Katie and Meggan Hitchens all signed autographs following the parade. Their mother participated in the Miss Michigan pageant program.
Like mother, like daughters, the Hitchens love the competitions.
“It’s so awesome said,” Katie, Miss Portsmouth Teen. “I always have someone to look up to for advice.”
Abbey and Amelia are both older than her. And Meggan is the youngest.
“We all get to prepare together,” said Amelia, Miss Northwestern Ohio.
Also following the parade, The Bullit Band performed in the Brickyard.
This is the 95th year of the Miss Ohio contest.
