By Chris Paul
After nearly a decade and a half the Miss Londonderry crown has found a home on the head of a hometown girl.
Recent Londonderry graduate and longtime pageant participant Morgan Torre completed her dream of being crowned Miss Londonderry on Sunday night, July 25, at Matthew Thornton Elementary School, and hopes to move on to winning the Miss New Hampshire crown next April.
The title of Miss Londonderry Outstanding Teen was also awarded that night and went to a resident of Londonderry as well. Londonderry High School senior Annabella Wu won the title in her very first pageant.
The Miss Londonderry and Miss Londonderry Outstanding Teen Scholarship Programs have been running for 17 years, and this year the program was organized and directed by LHS math teacher, Cara Bound, who coincidentally, was the last Londonderry resident to wear the crown, back in 2006-07.
Last year, due to COVID-19, the program was suspended and the current Miss Londonderry, Lauren Fohlin, has held that distinction for nearly two years.
The current Miss Londonderry Outstanding Teen, Bre Paquette, was also presenton Sunday night and helped throughout the show.
Five judges given the task of naming this year’s winners, Brian Anderson, Caitlin Silver, Linsey Currier, Jane Bates and Jessica Morin Mathews were given that unenviable duty.
The 2020-21 Miss New Hampshire, Ashley Marsh, was also on hand to help with the ceremony.
Out of the eight contestants vying for the Miss Londonderry title, only one was from out of town. Those contestants were: Josselyn LbBlanc, Emily Vadeboncoeur, Haley Hines, April Mauceri, Sophia Hagymas, Maya Lincoln, Hayley Peters and Torre.
Torre is the current Miss Greater Derry titleholder, but was more than happy to relinquish the sash for the new title.
“I have wanted to be Miss Londonderry since I competed in the Princess Program when I was six-years-old and I can’t wait to represent this town at Miss New Hampshire and hopefully become the next Miss New Hampshire,” a jubilant Torre said after being crowned.
Torre is currently a college student at Suffolk University and her platform as Miss Londonderry will be “The Ripple Effect: Small Acts Make a Big Impact.”
She hopes to make waves of change by giving back to the Community and is encouraging others to follow her lead.
Torre was also a member of the Red Star Twirlers for many years and was a former Lancer Twirler along with her friend Emily Cowette.
After the competition, the gracious new titleholder of Miss Outstanding Teen, Annabella Wu said, “I’m so thankful and honored to be crowned.”
Wu’s platform is “Fashion for Our Future, Lets Consume Mindfully” and she performed ballet dance during the Talent Competition that evening.
With the win she will have her entry fee into the Miss N.N. competition paid for and with given a Community College System voucher.
The People’s Choice Award for the teen competition went to Tabitha Flattes and Josselyn LeBlance in the Miss group.
Second Runner Up was awarded to Haley Hines, who received $150 and a Community College System voucher.
The First Runner Up was Hayley Peters, who received $250 and a Community College System voucher.