Abbott wins 62nd Miss NIBROC Scholarship Pageant

Above, Hayley Abbott, Miss NIBROC 2014, is crowned Saturday during the Miss NIBROC Pageant by Kelsey Powell, Miss NIBROC 2013.

Recent Corbin High School graduate Hayley Abbott remembers years ago when she was a little girl going to the Miss NIBROC Pageant and dreaming about one day wearing the crown. Her aunt won and was named Miss NIBROC when Hayley was only four-years-old.

“I would come to the Miss NIBROC Pageant every year. I loved it,” Abbott said Saturday night shortly after capturing the Miss NIBROC crown for herself. “This has been a huge dream of mine since I was a little girl. It feels so amazing to follow in her footsteps. I’m really honored to represent my town as Miss NIBROC.”

Twelve local women competed in the pageant, held at Corbin High School. Abbott won the evening gown and interview portions of the competition, and was the consensus choice of the judges to reign as the 2014 Miss NIBROC.

Abbott is the daughter of Michael and Stacey Abbott and will attend Eastern Kentucky University this fall.

First runner-up Haley Harris, of Williamsburg, won the swimsuit portion of the pageant. She is the daughter of John and Erica Harris and attends Williamsburg High School.

Corbin High School student Hannah Logan, the daughter of Tim and Donna Logan, was second runner up.

Sara Walker, the daughter of Mark and Tammy Walker and a student at Whitley County High School, was named Most Photogenic and also was awarded the Alexandra J. Hamilton Congeniality Award. Hamilton, who died last year in a tragic auto accident at the age of 17, was a participant on the Miss NIBROC Pageant in 2012 and won the Congeniality Award.

Along with the Miss NIBROC title, Abbott won an impressive package of prizes including $10,000 scholarships to both the University of the Cumberlands and Union College, jewelry, numerous gift certificates and a $750 scholarship from Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Corbin.

The first and second runners up in the competition also won prize packages.

Abbott said being a part of the Miss NIBROC Pageant was a great experience overall.

“It was incredible to be on stage under the lights and in front of all those people,” she said. “I think it’s important for young women to be confident and be comfortable with speaking in public and being good role models.”

Abbott will lead the annual NIBROC parade on Kentucky Ave. Thursday at 7:00 p.m.