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Maleah Lee, 20, Celina, is crowned Miss Lake Festival 2025, by outgoing Miss Lake Festival queen Caitlin Cramer on Sunday night. Miss Ohio 2024 Stephanie Finoti was also on hand for moment. Lee and Miss Lake Festival Outstanding Teen 2025 Makenna Harden will reign over Lake Festival events Friday through Sunday.
CELINA - Maleah Lee, 20, Celina, was crowned Miss Lake Festival 2025 during Sunday night's Miss Lake Festival Scholarship Pageant at the Harley C. Jones Memorial Rotary Amphitheater in the Bryson Park District.
Along with a sparkling crown - and entry into the 2025 Miss Ohio competition next summer - Lee landed a $4,500 scholarship. She also took home the $500 Jerry Deitsch Talent Award scholarship.
Lee, who won runner-up at last year's pageant, is a junior at Indiana University majoring in criminal justice and minoring in political science. She is the daughter of Diana Lee.
Her community service initiative was "Open a Book, Open Your World."
She gave a dance performance set to the song "Defying Gravity" from the musical "Wicked."
Paige Kuehne, 19, Celina, won first runner-up and a $2,000 scholarship. She also was triumphant in other categories, winning the $200 Miss Congeniality Award scholarship, chosen by the contestants and members of the Lake Festival committee; the $500 Commitment to Excellence Award scholarship; and the $500 Fred Thees Interview Award scholarship.
She is the daughter of Jay and Andrea Kuehne, and is a sophomore at the University of Cincinnati majoring in elementary education.
Olivia Kentner, 24, Wapakoneta, won second runner-up and walked away with a $1,000 scholarship. She is the daughter of Matt and Amy Kentner. She graduated from the University of Cincinnati where she majored in communications and public relations.
The phases of the competition included a private interview, an onstage question, a health and fitness pitch, a talent competition and an evening gown portion.
Makenna Harden, 14, Celina, was crowned Miss Lake Festival Outstanding Teen 2025. She won a $200 scholarship and will compete for the title of Miss Ohio's Teen next summer.
Makenna Harden, 14, Celina, was crowned Miss Lake Festival Outstanding Teen 2025. She won a $200 scholarship and will compete for the title of Miss Ohio's Teen next summer.
She is a freshman at Celina High School. Her community service initiative was "Physical Fitness and its Mental Health Benefits." She is the daughter of Toby Harden and Jen Braun and Alex Vogan.
Lee and Harden together will reign over Lake Festival events Friday through Sunday.
Miss Lake Festival 2025 contestants Paige Kuehne, 19, Celina; Francesca Steinbrunner, 18, Rockford; Olivia Kentner, 24, Wapakoneta; Hannah Mullins, 18, St. Marys; Isabella Mull, 18, Celina; Kymberlie Kundtz, 19, Celina; Arrianna Shinn, 18, Coldwater; and Maleah Lee, 20, Celina, stand before a large crowd gathered at the Harley C. Jones Memorial Rotary Amphitheater in the Bryson Park District in Celina on Sunday night.
Also during the evening 17 Little Miss Lake Fest participants took part in an opening dance number, modeled outfits showcasing what they want to be when they grow up, answered an on-stage question and received the official Miss America's Little Sister crown and sash on stage.
Many of the awards on Sunday night also came with flowers, a photoshoot, hair and makeup and a gown for the photoshoot. Additional awards were to be handed out at an after-party.
All non-finalists received a $450 scholarship, and each candidate also received $200 from sponsors to cover the costs of the pageant or to be used as additional scholarship money.
Pageant emcee Carrie Cubberley, Miss Lake Festival 1993, said the event is known for its robust scholarship awards made possible by local sponsors.
"The least any of the Miss Lake Festival contestants will walk away with tonight is $650 worth of scholarship dollars, and we are awarding over $12,000 in scholarships," she said. "It really is amazing. When you travel around the state, people cannot believe that number and the generosity of this community."
Miss Lake Festival Scholarship Pageant contestant Francesca Steinbrunner, 18, Rockford, shows off a portrait of pop singer Sia she swiftly painted on spot during her talent portion of the event.
