Emilea McLean won the crown as Miss Greater Sandhills 2010 Saturday night, giving her the opportunity to return to Raleigh to compete in the Miss North Carolina pageant next year.

Outgoing titleholder Lisa Mace, who was fourth runner-up in this year's Miss N.C. pageant, crowned McLean.

Known by family and friends as Emmy, the 23-year-old McLean is a former Miss Moore County and has held other preliminary titles. She is the daughter of Michael and Anne McLean, of Whispering Pines.

McLean is currently in graduate school at N.C. State University.

As the winner of the Miss Greater Sandhills Pageant, she receives a $1,000 scholarship from the pageant committee as well as a $500 in-kind scholarship.

She won this year's community service award for her platform, "Rays" Your Awareness, which promotes skin cancer awareness among young people.

McLean performed the vocal number, "Can't Help Loving That Man of Mine," during the talent competition.

Madison Hadaway, daughter of Ken and Natalie Hadaway, of Southern Pines, will serve as McLean's Carolina Princess.

Charity Haskins was selected as first runner-up, receiving a $500 scholarship.

The 18-year-old daughter of Albert and Yvonne Haskins, of Aberdeen, she also won the Lisa Mace Talent Award. She is a student at Sandhills Community College and performed "My Favorite Things" during the talent competition.

Laura Puleo, a student at Duke University, was chosen as second runner-up and receives a $300 scholarship. The 19-year-old daughter of Joel and Ellen Puleo, of Pinehurst, she performed a ballet en pointe to "He's a Pirate," from "Pirates of the Caribbean."

Twenty-year-old Shavaughn Mitchell, a student at Sandhills Community College, was chosen as Miss Congeniality by her peers. She is the daughter of Norman and Carolyn Mitchell, of Cameron.

Jenna Walters, 23-year-old daughter of Michael and Cheryl Walters, of Raeford, won both the silent auction award and the Juanita K. Baker Memorial Award for program ad sales.

Other Miss contestants included Candis Bouldin, 18-year-old daughter of Lizzie Blue and Michael Bouldin, of Southern Pines; and Kristin Terry, 19-year-old daughter of William and Evelyn Terry, of Southern Pines.

Morgan Ammons was crowned Miss Greater Sandhills Outstanding Teen 2010 by Kelcie Frye, the outgoing queen.

Ammons, 15-year-old daughter of Stevie and Teresa Ammons, of Fayetteville, attends Jack Britt High School.

Her community service platform is about learning about diabetes. She performed a vocal number during the talent competition. Her sister, Meredith Ammons, will serve as her Carolina Princess.

Brittni Adams was chosen as first runner-up, winning a $200 savings bond. Adams also received the Kelly Fritz Talent Award as well as the ticket sales award. She performed a tap number during the competition. Adams is the 16-year-old daughter of Nelson and Lisa Scott, of Whispering Pines, and attends Union Pines High School.

Selected as second runner-up, was Sydney Turner, 15-year-old daughter of Terry and Kay Turner, of West End. She was also chosen as Miss Congeniality by her peers. The Pinecrest High School student performed a tap number.

Other Teen contestants included Destinee Watts, 14-year-old daughter of David and Dede Watts, of Laurinburg; 15-year-old Katie Kearns, the daughter of Randy and Deana Kearns, of West End; 13-year-old Amanda Felix, daughter of Brad and Toni Felix, of West End, and 16-year-old Taylor Payne, daughter of Tim and Beth Mercer, of Southern Pines.

The pageant was emceed by Chad Beane and Mace.

Entertainment was provided by Jordan Blake, Miss Greater Sandhills Outstanding Teen's Princess 2009; Frye; Mace; and Norma Jean Miller, who served as Miss Greater Sandhills' Princess 2009.

Jan Spivey is the executive director of the Miss Greater Sandhills Pageant Committee.

Contact Faye Dasen at fdasen@thepilot.com or 693-2475.