Oct. 23, 2006
 
Kasey Montgomery Crowned Miss West Virginia USA
 
By Chris Spencer
Huntington News Network Photographer
 
Flatwoods, WV (HNN) — Kasey Montgomery from Petersburg, WV was crowned Miss West Virginia USA for 2007 at the Days Inn Conference Center in Flatwoods on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 22, 2006 before a standing room only audience of more than 800 people.
 
The 23-year old Miss Montgomery looked stunning in her evening gown and swimsuit competitions and showed excellent speaking skills in her on-stage interview. The combination of all three was enough to convince the panel of judges that Miss Montgomery should represent West Virginia in the upcoming national televised Miss USA Pageant.
 

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Miss Montgomery said, "I have been doing pageants since I was in high school. It is something I have enjoyed. I have done the West Virginia America system for several years and I have competed in the USA system three times This is my third year. The third time has been a charm for me. Wow, it has been a dream come true."
 
"You never know what to expect. I went from last year not doing anything and to this year winning. I worked out really hard and came completely prepared. I have had a great time since I got here and did not worry about a thing. I just relaxed."
 
At one point during the show State Director Randy Sanders called the contestants, "West Virginia"s finest."
 
The 41 contestants for Miss West Virginia USA certainly backed those words up. The competition at this pageant is keen. Many will compete two or three times before winning.
 
Miss Montgomery said, "There are so many beautiful girls and they all bring so much to the table when they come especially on a weekend like this and everybody is rooming together and having room mates. It is an amazing experience. Everybody takes a little piece from each other and learns about each other. They are also building character. This is a difficult pageant because there is so much diversity."
 
"I hope the interview was a strong point for me. I enjoy that a lot. It is a two minute interview with two different panels. I think that would be one of my stronger points and maybe the evening gown. I did work really hard for the swimsuit."
 
To prepare for the Miss USA Pageant Miss Montgomery wants to work out and get her body in tip top shape. She wants to do more interviewing. She wants to work in the community and continue to work on her platform on eating disorders that she has worked on for the last seven years.
 
Miss Montgomery said, "I want to go out and educate people on eating disorders. This is an opportunity not only go to the Miss USA, but also to get out my platform and educate people on the dangers of eating disorders. I am going to use this is an outlet to go out and promote something very good."
 
Currently enrolled in West Virginia University, Montgomery is studying communications. She hopes to eventually find a career possibly in broadcasting.
 
She said, "I want to graduate from college and play the market and see what is available. I want to try a couple of things out to see what I really like. I would love to be in television or radio."
 
"I am a total girl and enjoy sports, but I may not always know so much about sports. That is a venue I can check out later in my life."
 
"Right now news or weather would be fine or something like Entertainment Tonight would be great. I am totally all about what is going on with celebrities and entertainment. That is definitely some where eventually I might pop up."
 
Finishing first runner-up was Lindsay Weaver from Buckhannon; second runner-up was Brittani Chase Mills from Huntington; third runner-up was Heather Marie Hostutler from Bridgeport and fourth runner-up was Ashley Danielle Bond from Huntington. Sarah Hart from Dunbar was selected Miss Congeniality.
 
The field of 41 was narrowed down to fifteen semi-finalists. They competed in swimsuits and evening gowns. The semi-finalists were narrowed down to a final five finalists to determine a winner and runner-ups.