Royalty was crowned at the 11th Annual Steelville Christmas Pageant on Dec. 9, including Cora Pearl Campbell as the 2025 Teen Miss Steelville, Natalie Bannister as the 2025 Junior Miss Steelville and Ezamae Warden as the 2025 Petite Miss Steelville. The event took place at the Meramec Music Theatre, sponsored by the Steelville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Mylia Alexander was runner-up for the Teen Miss division, Alicen Hoss was runner-up for the Junior Miss division and Arabella Adams was runner-up in the Petite Miss division. Candidates for the Teen Miss division were ages 12 to 15, those in the Junior Miss division were ages 10 to 11, and those in the Petite Miss division were ages 7 to 9 years old.

Each candidate participated in the Christmas–wear competition. Competitors were asked to spark their inner creativity and put together a Christmas ensemble to model on stage. They were judged on the presence, personality and the creativity of their outfit. A formal wear competition was also included, where candidates were judged on stage presence, walk and sense of confidence. 

Judges also gave an impromptu question, for which participants were judged on their validated responses, eye contact and charisma.

Campbell, crowned Teen Miss Steelville, is the 12-year-old daughter of Dan and Samantha Campbell. She is in the sixth grade, and enjoys playing basketball, volleyball, baking, horseback riding and showing bucket calves, rabbits and poultry. She is the President of the Final Drive 4-H Club. Some of her achievements include being the junior leader in bucket calves, poultry and rabbits, winning grand champion in 2025 for bucket calves, mini breeds and trio in poultry. She also owns Cora's Sweet Treat and started Cora's Helping Paws to collect for the animals in local shelters. Her favorite thing about Christmas is spending time with family in the Christmas magic.

Bannister, crowned Junior Miss Steelville, is the ten-year-old daughter of Tiffany Branson. She is in fourth grade and has one brother and one sister.  She enjoys playing basketball and softball.  Bannister is a member of the Wild-n-Free 4-H Club and shows a rooster, meat chickens and bunnies at the fair, receiving blue ribbons on all exhibits. She received first runner-up in the 2024 Petite Miss Steelville pageant and has received several academic awards. Bannister’s favorite thing about Christmas is spending time with family.

Warden, crowned Petite Miss Steelville, is the seven-year-old daughter of Dylan and Elizabeth Warden. She is in the second grade and has two brothers. She enjoys playing basketball and participating in gymnastics. Warden’s greatest achievement has been receiving the Kindness Award at school this year. Her favorite thing about Christmas is giving people presents who don’t get gifts often.

Runner-up for Miss Teen Steelville is Alexander, the twelve-year-old daughter of Joel and Peggy Alexander. She is in sixth grade and has three brothers and three sisters. She enjoys playing basketball, volleyball and showing livestock. Alexander is also involved in Awana at Center Point Baptist Church.  She is a member of the Outdoors and More 4-H Club, where she is also the club secretary. Alexander is part of the Pep Club and plays the clarinet in the band at Steelville Middle School. She has won several banners for showing livestock, including Junior Goat Showmanship Champion at the Crawford County Fair for two years and Jackpot Showmanship Champion for three years. Her favorite thing about Christmas is putting together shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child to be shipped to children around the world who might not otherwise get anything for Christmas.  

Hoss, runner-up for the Junior Miss, is the ten-year-old daughter of Shane Hoss and Samantha Nickles. She is in fourth grade and has four sisters. She enjoys playing soccer and going to the library to check out different books. One of her greatest achievements is receiving the Citizenship Award at school. Hoss’s favorite thing about Christmas is being with her family.

Adams is the nine-year-old daughter of Buddy and Sandra Adams. She is in the fourth grade and has one sister. She enjoys playing basketball, hunting, trapping and fishing. She is a member of the Wild-n-Free 4-H Club and Girl Scouts. Adams’s favorite thing about Christmas is spending time and celebrating Jesus’ birth.

Additional Teen Miss division participants were Raygan Eaton and Adalynn Thomas. Paislee Summers was the only other participant in the Junior Miss division. Other participants in the Petite Miss division were Emma Midyett, Elaina Grace Earney, Laylah Hoss, McKenzie Porter and Emily Simpson.

Retiring Petite Miss Clara Meintz made an appearance, and retiring Junior Miss Mylia Alexander competed in the Teen Miss Steelville division.

The pageant was emceed by 2025 Harvest Festival Queen First Runner-up Haylee Williams and Steelville Christmas Pageant’s Chairman Becky Simpson.

Judges were Charley Leonard, Danielle Casarotto and Charisma Pippin. The pageant committee includes Simpson and Peggy Alexander with FCNB Bank and Julie Settles with FCNB Insurance and FNCB Investments. Pageant sponsors include Britton Bennet Funeral Home, Cheryl Wilkerson, Riddle Me This, Peoples Bank, Shelter Insurance, FCNB Bank and FCNB Insurance, as well as Steelville R-3 School District for volunteers and use of their facilities, and the Meramec Music Theatre for helping out.