The 2024 World Festival Queens and Court [Facebook photo]

New World Festival queens and court were crowned over the weekend during the World Festival Queen Pageant held at the Kewanee High School Petersen Auditorium.

The newly-minted queens will preside over the Hog Days Festival, be a part of the Hog Days parade and carry out their duties for the next year, which include assisting with area charity events and delivering Teddy Bears and toys to the Children’s Hospital in Peoria.

The following young women who won the titles are:

2024 Miss World Festival, Marissa Nelson of Geneseo
First runner up: Sidney Regan of Galesburg
Second runner up: Nadia Kessling of Henry

Newly-crowned Queen, seated, Marissa Nelson. The 2023 Wold Festival Queen Whitney Godsil prepares to crown Nelson. [Facebook photo]
Queen Marissa Nelson and the first and second runner up, Sidney Regan and Nadia Kessling [Facebook photo]

Junior Miss World Festival, Mollie Parr of Geneseo
First runner up: Ella Holland of Altona
Second runner up: Isabelle Puckett

Junior Miss World Festival Queen Mollie Parr of Geneseo reacts to the news that she has won the title. [Facebook photo]

Little Miss World Festival, Breckyn Granell of Geneseo
First runner up: Tinley Popken of Galesburg
Second runner up: Kamdyn Powell

Mini Miss and Little Miss World Festival Queens Hensley Powell and Breckyn Granell [Facebook photo]

Mini Miss World Festival, Hensley Powell of Kewanee
First runner up: Talia DeReu of Kewanee
Second runner up: Jocelyn Wexell of Geneseo

Beyond the crowns and runner ups, other awards were:

Min Miss
Hospitality- Talia DeReu
Photogenic- Talia DeReu
Congeniality- Stella Hamilton
Director’s Award- Wrenly Colomer
Interview- Hensley Powell

Little Miss
Hospitality- Ivie Haptonstall
Photogenic- Kamdyn Powell
Congeniality- Camdyn Jennings
Director’s Award-Harper Lybarger
Interview- Breckyn Granell

Junior Miss
Hospitality- Peyton Wexell
Photogenic- Ella Holland
Congeniality- Olivia Stone
Director’s Award- Camille VanDeVelde
Interview- Isabelle Puckett

Miss
Hospitality- Nadia Kessling
Photogenic- Eva Ceja
Congeniality- Zoe Palmer
Director’s Award- Lucy Coffey
Interview- Marissa Nelson

The Miss World Festival organization thanked and congratulated the outgoing Queens, Whitney Godsil, Whitney Minton, Brynlee Bowker and Ruby VandeVelde.