New Miss City of Maricopa crowned after winner steps down

A new Miss City of Maricopa was crowned Wednesday after the previous winner stepped down earlier this week.

Sydnee Akers, a senior at Maricopa High School, is the new face of Maricopa and will be representing the city in the Miss Arizona Scholarship Pageant in June.

Mary Patch, who won the title in August, is stepping down from the crown because she is getting married in April. Pageant rules don’t allow someone who is married to compete.

A small crowd gathered in the UltraStar Multi-tainment Center Wednesday to take photos and cheer on Akers as she was crowned. Akers, who was the runner-up in the August pageant, was crowned by Miss Pinal County Jacqueline Thomas.

Akers, adorned in a studded tiara, a white sash, and wearing a simple black dress and pumps, said the small ceremony was really neat.

“I felt like a real-life princess – all the cameras going, and everyone wanting to take pictures, and the tiara, and everything. It’s just a whole new experience and I’m really excited to start this new chapter of my life,” Akers said.

Akers is an active member of the community. She put on the community pep rally during the Homecoming Powderpuff Football game in October and recently started a drive at MHS to raise money to buy holiday presents for children. She is part of the student council, competes on the school’s varsity softball team, and works at the UltraStar Multi-tainment Center.

Akers, who is the daughter Rusty Akers, the pastor at Community of Hope Church, said she was really excited when she found out she will be the new Miss City of Maricopa.

“I almost started crying because it was something really unique to me,” she said. “This was the first beauty pageant I’ve ever done and coming up a little bit short was a little bit heartbreaking, and then finding out that I get to help out and take over was really exciting for me.”

Yovonie Johnson, the executive director of the Miss City of Maricopa pageant, said she is excited to see Akers compete in the Miss Arizona pageant.

“I think it’s incredible,” Johnson said. “I think it’s so much fun to be able to experience this in her senior year and I think that she’ll continue to do pageants. I’m excited to see her in Miss Arizona.”

Johnson said Akers is a lot of fun, and will be great for the pageant.

“She has a very bubbly personality,” she said. “She is involved in everything.”