Four area girls bring home pageant titles

Courtesy of Connie Owens

Ellie Corns of Dublin was the winner of the Virginia Royal Elite Open State Pageant, held at the Holiday Inn Valley View in Roanoke this past weekend. There were 72 contestants and the four-year-old from Dublin won the title of 2026 Virginia’s Royal Elite Overall Miss. She is the daughter of Tori and Jarred Corns.

 

Staff Report

Four area girls brought home top honors this past weekend from the Virginia Royal Elite Open State Pageant, held at the Holiday Inn Valley View in Roanoke.

There were 72 contestants and a four-year-old from Dublin won the title of 2026 Virginia’s Royal Elite Overall Miss.

Ellie Corns was crowned Overall Miss at the Virginia’s Royal Elite Pageant, earning one of the highest honors of the competition. Along with capturing the overall title, Ellie also won the Overall Interview Award for the entire pageant — an incredible accomplishment for someone so young.

She is the daughter of Tori and Jarred Corns. Her family says her success comes from her hard work, dedication, and bright personality. Even at just four years old, she is known for being kind, confident, and exceptionally smart. Her interview win especially showcased her ability to communicate, express herself, and shine on stage far beyond her years.

As Virginia’s Royal Elite Overall Miss, Ellie is excited to use her title to make a positive impact in her community. She hopes to represent her title with kindness, leadership, and a heart for helping others while inspiring other young girls to believe in themselves and chase their dreams.

According to her mom, Ellie loves “all things girly and brings joy and sparkle everywhere she goes.” This is her very first title, making the achievement even more special for both Ellie and her family.

Another area winner was Libby Rose Bradbury of Blacksburg.

Bradbury is incredibly honored to have earned the title of Virginia’s Royal Elite Young Miss. She is an enthusiastic 7-year-old.
Through hard work, dedication, and determination, she worked tirelessly to achieve this goal. This title is more than just a crown to Libby—it is an opportunity to continue growing her platform, “Laugh with Libby,” where she spreads love, kindness, and laughter throughout her community. Libby is excited to use her year of service to inspire others, bring smiles to those around her, and show that even the smallest act of kindness can make a big difference.

With a heart full of kindness and a smile that lights up every room, Dublin’s Raelyn Miller is proud to serve as Virginia’s Royal Elite Mini Miss.

At just 5 years old, Raelyn has already learned that even the smallest person can make a big impact. Through her platform, “Rae’s of Sunshine,” she is dedicated to spreading happiness through community service, helping others, and sharing kindness wherever she goes. Whether it’s giving back to her community or brightening someone’s day with a simple act of love, Raelyn believes everyone deserves a little sunshine.
As she begins her year as Mini Miss, Raelyn hopes to encourage other young girls to dream big, work hard, and never give up on their goals. She wants every child to know that determination, confidence, and a caring heart can take you farther than you ever imagined.
Raelyn is excited to represent Virginia’s Royal Elite, create meaningful memories, and spend her year sharing sunshine, one smile at a time.

Crowns are not made of rhinestones. They’re made of discipline, determination, and courage. As a sweet, sassy, faith-filled 7-year-old with a passion for serving others and spreading kindness everywhere she goes, Natalie Crowder of Dublin is excited and honored to represent her title as the 2026 Virginia’s Royal Elite Junior Miss highpoint.
Through her personal platform, “Be the Light,” she encourages others to shine brightly through acts of love, compassion, and service, inspired by Matthew 5:16. She hopes to be a role model and an inspiration to all young girls throughout Virginia, reminding them that they are worthy, deeply loved, and beautiful beyond measure.
After serving as the 2024 Mini Miss, Natalie knew that the Virginia Royal Elite system was one that would challenge her to be the best version of herself. After competing at the national pageant in October and placing as a top 5 finalist, Natalie set her sights on earning this title to serve as a state queen once again. Countless hours of practice, prayers, and hard work were poured into her victory. She is excited to create lasting memories, an impact on her community, and a legacy for her future predecessors.

Editor’s note: Information for this article was provided by Tori Corns.