With local organizations such as Discover Downtown Middlesboro and Main Street Pineville, Bell County is on an upward trend of providing quality events and activities for its citizens.

A new organization has recently cropped up — giving Bell County its own beauty pageant. Through Miss Kentucky Spectacular America Pageant, the first ever Miss Bell County Spectacular America will be held on Feb. 10 at the Bell Theatre in downtown Pineville. The winner of the crown at this event will represent Bell County at the Miss Kentucky Spectacular in July.

Executive State Director, Jill Wilmeth, picked Kentucky for her organization because because “my family is from Middlesboro! I made weekly trips there as a child and have several childhood memories there! I still have family in the area. I also work there several times a month. Middlesboro is a great little town and I absolutely love the downtown area — it has so much to offer and I think this would be really good for the growth of the community and would give the kids something to participate in their area.”

Wilmeth also said that the goal of the organization is to teach young girls that inner beauty is just as important as anything on the outside. She highlighted how they like to give back to the community. One of their newest ways of accomplishing this is a charity program called Santa with a Crown that the winners participate in.

“We work to get donations and around Christmas time we deliver gifts to kids in need. The girls help on a local and state level to participate in charity work of their choice during their reign. This helps teach the girls responsibility and the importance of giving back to the community. We will also participate in local parades, etc.,” she said.

The Bell County Official Preliminary to Miss Kentucky Miss Spectacular National Pageant will take place at 2:30 p.m. in the Bell Theatre.