Miss Augusta Andrea Bailey was the 4th runner-up. KATHY MOORE/STAFF

Columbus State student tapped Miss Georgia

Web posted June 29, 1998

Associated Press

COLUMBUS -- April Brinson, a 19-year-old music education major at Columbus State University, won the 54th annual Miss Georgia Pageant on Saturday night and will represent the state in the Miss America contest in September.

Miss Brinson, of Bainbridge, who represented Greater Southwest Georgia in the pageant at Columbus' Three Arts Theatre, won the talent competition Friday night singing ``My Heart Will Go On,'' the theme song from the motion picture ``Titanic.''

In addition to representing Georgia in the Miss America event Sept. 19 in Atlantic City, N.J., she won a $9,000 scholarship.

``It's everybody's responsibility to put education into their own hands,'' Miss Brinson said during her interview. ``This includes all areas, from math to music.''

Another Columbus State student, Miss Presidential Pathways, Shana Ashley Keel, 22, was first runner-up. Miss Keel, a graduate student in public relations from Columbus, receives a $4,400 scholarship. She was Friday night's swimsuit competition winner.

The second runner-up was Miss Heart of Georgia, Lea Lanier, 23, a University of Georgia graduate student in vocal performance.

Miss Cobb County, Christene Michelle Perry, 23, a Florida State University psychology major, was third runner-up.

Fourth runner-up was Miss Augusta, Andrea Lee Bailey, 19, an Augusta State University music education major.

Rounding out the top 10 finalists among the 46 contestants were: Miss Northwest Georgia, Carla Redding; Miss Cordele, Lisa Kathryn Lunsford; Miss North Central Georgia, Cecilia Elizabeth Clark; Miss Mercer University, Emilie Edwards; and Miss Conyers-Cherry Blossom, Nicole Burkholder.