Lindenhurst festival crowns three winners

In a year when more than a dozen young girls competed for Junior Miss in Lindenhurst, Julia Bauschke out shined them all.

The 12-year-old B.J. Hooper student beat out 13 contestants for the title Aug. 9 during Lindenfest.

Bauschke will represent Lindenhurst this year along with newly-crowned Miss Lindenhurst Shannon McMullin-Lewis and Little Miss Lindenhurst Sydney Schmidt, 6.

McMullin-Lewis, 17, is a senior at Lakes Community High School in Lake Villa. She was the first runner up in the 2006 Miss Lindenhurst pageant.

"She helped me out a lot last year and did an awesome job," 2006 Miss Lindenhurst Michelle Laning said.

Laning said all of the winners were great girls.

"Julia is one of the best girls I know and Sydney is just a riot," Laning said. "She is so fun and spunky and has so much character."

The girls were chosen from a panel of three judges.

Points were based on an interview before the pageant, on-stage speech and party dress competition. Miss Lindenhurst contestants also modeled evening gowns.

"The girls just had really sparkly personalities," said Christine Laning, pageant director. "They are friendly, active, do well in school and are just personable, outgoing girls."