All smiles and teary-eyed, senior Jessica Heidt was named 2010 Miss ECHS on Saturday night.

“I didn’t know what to think. I was so excited,” said Heidt of when her name was called.    

Jessica, also this year’s Homecoming Queen, was the winner for the interview portion of the competition. She is the daughter of Connie Heidt, who said she wasn’t nervous for her daughter. Jessica’s white diamond strapless gown made her eyes sparkle even more as she wiped away tears of joy and posed for pictures.

“She’s always a winner to me. I was just happy for her,” Connie Heidt said as she hugged her daughter.

The theme was “Once Upon a Fairy Tale,” and the 25 contestants opened the show dressed in all different kinds of fairy tale and Disney characters. There was Ariel from the “The Little Mermaid,” Alice from “Alice in Wonderland,” Snow White, Pocahontas and even Little Bo Peep.

Mixed between dance numbers from the Coastal Arts Academy, the girls displayed their grace and poise in casual wear, formal wear and interviewing. The girls spent the entire week before preparing for the pageant, with lots of help from the Competition Cheerleaders. The event was student produced, organized and run.

Other award winners from the evening were: Most Photogenic–Jessica Terry, Academic Achievement–Callie Martin, Interview–Jessica Heidt, Casual Wear–Kiley Ward, Formal Wear–Kiley Ward, Spirit of ECHS (voted on by the contestants)–Kiley Ward.

Fourth runner-up was Sydnie Van Curen, third runner-up was Takeyra Dixon, second runner-up was Jamie Allen, and first runner-up was Kiley Ward.