Audience members and participants alike got to “feel the beat” Saturday night at the Ritz as six high school senior girls from across the county competed for the title of Butler County’s Junior Miss.

Lori Fail, a student at Fort Dale Academy, ended up sweeping three category awards and the Spirit of Junior Miss award, taking home the title, the coveted medallion and $2,850 in scholarship monies. Fail was awarded the Fitness, Talent and Self-Expression Awards.

Lori Fail wowed the judges with her high-energy homage to the late pop great, Michael Jackson, as she performed a jazz dance complete with sequined glove to “Scream.”

Fail, the daughter of Karen and Roness Fail, plans to attend Troy University and major in physical therapy.

FDA’s Anne Blake Langford, the daughter of Ashley and Matt Langford, took the first runner-up spot. Langford performed a lively vocal to the Broadway tune “The Girl in 14G.” She plans to attend Auburn University and major in public relations. Langford received a $1,000 cash tuition scholarship.

Elizabeth Lincoln, also a Fort Dale Academy student, was selected second runner-up and received the Scholastic Award. Lincoln took home $750 in scholarship monies. Lincoln, the daughter of William and Mary Lincoln and Leanne and Mark Frank, gave a graceful ballet-en-pointe to “Masquerade” from the musical “Phantom of the Opera.” She plans to attend Samford University and major in English.

Hannah Stewart, a Greenville High School student, won the “Be Your Best Self” Essay Award and a $100 cash tuition scholarship. Stewart, the daughter of Debby and James Stewart, showed off her terrific tumbling skills in a sassy number to “Great Balls of Fire.” Stewart is planning to attend the University of South Alabama where she wants to major in early childhood education.

Also participating in the program were GHS’s Hollie Halford, daughter of Melissa and Jerry Halford and Tanya Hamrac, and Georgiana School’s Aleshia Cheatham, daughter of Patricia Cheatham. Halford performed Celine Dion’s stirring “My Heart Will Go On” on the saxophone while Cheatham gave a soulful performance of the gospel tune, “Can’t Give Up Now” during the talent portion of the program. Halford plans to attend Sweet Briar College and major in engineering, while Cheatham is set to attend the University of Alabama in Birmingham and majoring in psychology and physical therapy.

Fail will go on to compete on the state level in Montgomery in January 2011.

Also participating in Saturday night’s program were the participants’ Little Sisters, high school juniors who provide moral support and encouragement while getting a taste of the Junior Miss experience: Ashley Newton, Hannah Dillard, McCall Watson, Taylor Autrey, Lauren Lewis and Jazmyne Riggins.

This is the final year the local scholarship program will be known as “Junior Miss.”

The national program has already changed its name to “Distinguished Young Women: Scholarship, Leadership, Talent.”