Sanpete royalty receive their crowns

EPHRAIM—A Manti High School senior who served as Miss Ephraim for 2025-26 and then crowned her sister Adelie as her Miss Ephraim successor moved up to Miss Sanpete County at a pageant last Saturday, Aug. 1 at the Snow College Eccles Center.

The crown went to Kamrie Douglas, daughter of Colton and Melanie Douglas of Ephraim.

Kamrie, who has been dancing since she was 2 and says she has “loved every minute of it.” Last year, she was captain of the drill team at Manti High School. And she will be Manti High’s nominee for Sterling Scholar in dance for 2026-27. As her talent, she performed a lyrical dance solo titled “Goodbye.”

Kamrie’s father is a dentist. Her community service initiative is titled, “Healthy smile, healthy you.” She says she wants to raise awareness about oral hygiene, particularly in children, “so they can develop these habits at a young age and continue them for the rest of their lives.”

The runner up in the Miss Sanpete competition was Harmony Durtschi, daughter of Lawrence and Denise Durtschi of Ephraim. Also a Manti High student, she stays in shape by teaching Pilates.

Her talent was a vocal solo, “Wonder,” by Katy Parry, which she said reminds us to slow down, cherish life’s simple moments and never lose the sense of wonder that keeps our dreams alive.

Sasha Geloff, daughter of James and Sharee Geloff of Manti, was crowned Miss Sanpete County’s Teen. She attended was an honor student Ephraim Middle School last year and will be a freshman at Manti High this coming year.

She has taken dance lessons for several years. As her talent, she performed a fast-moving hip-hop dance to “Diva,” by Beyonce. Her performance, which included repeated forward rolls, had the audience cheering.

Sasha also stood out in the evening gown competition wearing white gown with a billowing hoop skirt.

Runner up for Miss Sanpete County’s Teen was Kaylie Oxman, daughter of Dave and Christine Oxman of Manti, who was on the cheer and softball teams at Manti High last year.

She has played piano for nine years and has received two gold cups in competitions sponsored by the Utah Association of piano teachers. She played “The Storm,” by Friedrich Burgmuller, a German composer who specialized in piano numbers.

A highlight of the pageant was appearance of Erica Dalton, who was recently crowned the 100th Miss Utah, as pageant emcee.

She is a graduate of the University of Michigan with degrees in violin performance and business. She has been awarded a scholarship to the Julliard School of Music in New York.

She and Ava Jensen, daughter of Aimee and Kyle Jensen of Mt. Pleasant and the outgoing Miss Sanpete, got to know each other when they were assigned as roommates at the Miss Utah pageant earlier in the summer.

Toward the end of the pageant, both Ava, and Kate Craven, daughter of Michael and Chrissy Craven of Fairview, who was wrapping up her reign as Miss Sanpete County’s Teen, made final walks and delivered their final thank-yous.

“To every organization, business and community member who invited me to participate in events throughout the year—thank you,” Ava said. “Whether I was attending parades, speaking at community gatherings, volunteering or celebrating local traditions, each invitation reminded me how special this community truly is. Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of so many meaningful moments.”

Kate told the audience, ““To my family and friends, thank you for standing beside me through every early morning, every late night, every appearance and every moment of doubt. Your love gave me the confidence to be the best version of myself.

She added, “Although tonight marks the end of my reign, it is not the end of my commitment to serving others. The sash may come off, but the lessons, friendships and passion this title has given me will stay with me forever.”

Miss Sanpete, Kamrie Douglas, received a $2,500 scholarship. She also received the “Spirit of Miss Sanpete” and $200 in cash, an award chosen by all the contestants and given to the girl who exemplifies good sportsmanship and friendship.

Harmony Durtschi, the runner-up for Miss Sanpete, received a $500 scholarship. She also walked awa with two special awards. She won the Heart of Gold Service Award and $200 in cash for writing an outstanding essay explaining her service initiative and the Elite Fundraiser award and $100 in cash for raising the most money of any of the candidates to support the Miss Sanpete organization.

Another contestant, Mily Parkinson of Moroni won the Teen in Action Award and $200 in cash for her essay explaining her service initiative.

A seven-member board of directors took charge of the pageant and will continue leading the Miss Sanpete County organization in the coming year.

The board consists of Kristyn Bore, executive director; Kera Peterson, assistant director; Brandy Lux, executive secretary; Jessica Lund, judges chair; Kayla Olsen, production director; Anna Pettit, communications director; and Denise Kroff, partnership director.