On Friday Sept. 13 at the Covey Center for the Arts, Charlee Sorenson became Miss Provo and Lilia Tavares was crowned as the city’s second Miss Freedom Festival.
When Tavares was announced as Miss Freedom Festival, she visibly mouthed, “I did it,” as she accepted the crown.
“It felt like years of progress and dedication all cumulated in that moment,” Tavares said. She had previously served as first and second attendant, and this was her third time running in the competition.
“I was and am beyond thrilled,” Sorenson said, who had also previously served in various capacities for Miss America Opportunity. “I know that winning a pageant means that life-changing experiences are about to ensue.”
Miss America Opportunity is intended to provide scholarships for women in the area while enabling them to serve their cities through a community service initiative.
Sorenson said her community service initiative involves bringing more mentorship programs to Provo schools.
“I will continue my partnership with Slate Canyon and do that work that I love — empowering young people to pursue their dreams through mentorship,” she said.
Through her program, CPR U Ready? Tavares said she plans to keep raising awareness about the importance of CPR education and make that education more accessible throughout Provo.
“I’m so grateful I get to do it in this new capacity as a titleholder,” Tavares said.
Although most cities just crown one woman as the city’s queen, Miss America Opportunity in Provo added Miss Freedom Festival in 2023.
According to Robyn Pulham, executive director of Miss Provo and Miss Freedom Festival, both crowns are equal, "they both go to Miss Utah.”
She said Sorenson and Tavares will serve as “sister queens,” meaning they will work together to serve both Provo and America’s Freedom Festival, the city’s nonprofit that aims to celebrate and teach the traditional American values of God, family, freedom and country.
Over the next year, Sorenson and Tavares will put their Community Service Initiatives into action, while also serving the city of Provo in whatever capacity is needed.
“I’m looking forward to serving the community and going to every event possible to connect with this community,” Sorenson said.
Nine women from the area competed to win the Miss Provo and Miss Freedom Festival titles.
Candidates were judged by five judges based on a private interview held before the event, an onstage interview question about their community service initiative, health and fitness, talent and evening gown demonstrations.
For her talent, Sorenson performed an operatic solo of “Amour, ranime mon courage,” and Tavares demonstrated olympic-style weightlifting. Both performances were well received by the crowd.
Miss Provo and Miss Freedom Festival were not the only awards handed out Friday evening.
Lilia Tavares also won an award for bringing the most tickets into the competition. Contestant Britney Rivera won an award for bringing in the most sponsors to help fund the program. The Director’s Award went to Eliza McMurray, the contestant who was most willing to help other candidates.
BYU student Emma Hansen won a surprise scholarship award, presented by Miss Provo 2022 Glory Thomas based on her nonprofit Glo with Kindness.
“This award recipient has demonstrated exceptional leadership through her selfless acts of kindness,” Thomas said. Hansen was also awarded the Spirit Award going out of her way to help others feel accepted.
Hansen said winning the awards were such an honor.
“I’m so glad I could be kind to my fellow competitors and make such beautiful friendships with them,” she said.
Hansen said her friendship with the Miss Provo 2023 Molli Eaton is what inspired her to compete this year.
“Over the summer, she encouraged me to give it a try, and I decided if I can do anything to be more like Molli, it would only be a blessing in my life,” she said.
“This organization is so much more than a one-night competition in your town. It’s a lifetime of personal progress, community involvement and a sisterhood of goal-oriented young women,” Eaton said, about her time as Miss Provo 2023.
In a voiceover during her farewell walk at the event, Miss Freedom Festival 2023 Grace Ehinger said the opportunity has provided her with memorable experiences, memories she "will hold in my heart for a lifetime.”
In the words of Robyn Pulham, executive director of the event, Miss Provo and Miss Freedom Festival is “not just a beauty pageant. It’s so much more.”