MEET WHO MAKES THE MAGIC HAPPEN
KATHY A. YATES, DIRECTOR
Hello, my name is Kathy A. Yates and I'm the Director of the Miss Calhoun County, Miss Cheaha, Miss Motorsports, and Miss East Alabama pageants!
I've been involved in all aspects of pageantry for over 30 years including competing, judging, pageant coordination as well as consulting and coaching. I love watching girls start out in pageants and grow into beautiful, confident, intelligent young ladies. Life long friends are made through the fellowship of competition with life lessons earned from participation and experience. Commitment to self improvement leads to self confidence which insures these young ladies will meet their future goals.
Miss Calhoun County, Miss Cheaha, Miss Motorsports, and Miss East Alabama were developed to create a system that was inclusive for all girls wishing to compete in a local pageant that celebrates fairness, community, and fellowship. Though it welcomes the experienced competitor, it does not heavily weigh that experience in the judging criteria.
Our pageants strive for the classic beauty in the style of the Miss America pageants. Transparency is crucial in any event where contestant performances are judged. Published judging criteria is always available and will be read to the audience as well as the judges.
We are very fortunate to have coached many of our local girls and I am very proud of their many successes. I hope it goes with out saying that my judging and scoring staff are chosen for their experience and reputation and there is no favoritism expected or tolerated. These pageants are ongoing "works in progress" and the growing popularity of our pageants are directly related to our innovation, professionalism and willingness to respond to the needs of our contestants.
The contestants are judged by human beings and their choices for winners are by definition subjective; however fairness, honesty, and reputation are the cornerstones of all of our pageants.
I believe today as a pageant director, as I have always believed as a pageant mom, if you question the integrity of a pageant then it is a terrible waste of time for you to compete in it.
MINDY OWENS, CO-DIRECTOR
A veteran of pageant competition since she was 15 months old, Mindy is now utilizing that experience in her own consulting and coaching business. Mindy has won dozens of pageants and competed in dozens more. There have been triumphs as well as disappointments, but she never gave up. She wears those crowns as well as those hard-earned lessons and carries them with her as she works to become the best "Mindy" she can be.
Mindy came up with the name GLO productions which stems from her motto, “Go Love Others.” During challenging times such as the pandemic in 2020, Mindy realized that she could overcome anything with the loving, supportive people that are in her life. She has never been afraid to venture out, meet new people, and offer up her genuine spirit in hopes of receiving the same love. She discovered a lot about herself and what she was passionate about through pageant interview lessons. She stays involved in the pageant scene through co-directing because she wants to help girls create a community of strong women. Her most memorable pageant experiences were ones where she encountered people that felt more like friends than competition.
Mindy’s main goal is to change the name of pageantry by helping spread awareness that pageant girls have so much to offer beyond their beauty. All of the girls that compete in our system and others are intelligent, talented, and caring women who love to give back to their community.
A few of Mindy's titles include Tiny Miss Oxford, Overall Little Miss Clay County, Little Miss Calhoun County Christmas, Little Miss Cheaha, Little Miss Motorsports, Jr. Miss Motorsports, Teen Miss Motorsports, Tiny Miss Georgia World, Little Miss Alabama Christmas, Jr. Miss Alabama Belle, Teen Miss Smith Lake State, Teen Miss Harrelson County Relay for Life, Miss Calhoun County Relay for Life, Miss Cleburne County Relay for Life, Miss Queen for a cure, Teen Miss Oxford, Young Miss Motorsports, Miss Gardendale, Miss Pell City, Miss Logan Martin, and Miss Alabama Collegiate top 3.
Mindy is a senior at Auburn University.