Inner Beauty, a local mentoring program for young girls in Marion County, crowned its 2025 pageant court over the weekend.
Following a three-month-long preparation process, the 2025 Inner Beauty Pageant took place at the Bitwell Event Center on March 23. Founded by Chrystal Hines, the Inner Beauty mentoring program began with the Inner Beauty Pageant 22 years ago.
“We teach them life skills, we teach them interviewing skills, we teach them how to do things that are very practical, such as walking in heels,” Hines said. “We are a strength-based agency, so we build on their natural talent and we really hone in and try to develop those and give them a lot more confidence to get out in front of an audience.”
The idea for the Inner Beauty Pageant was born from Hines’ desire to host an event for young girls in the community to help them learn positive character, poise, self-esteem, confidence and “how to live as upright, virtuous young women,” Hines said.
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The pageant is not about beauty or talent but what is on the inside. The panel of judges scores contests based on their confidence, pride in who they are, authenticity and sisterhood, Hines said.
“They talk about what their future careers are, what their college goals are, who they are the proud daughter or proud granddaughter of,” Hines said. “We talk about building that sisterhood, building that unity (and) about how to embrace one another.”
Prior to getting onstage, each contestant participates in an interview with a panel of judges. During the competition, contestants engage in the Unity dance, talent portion and formal wear — everything from dresses to shoes to jewelry and makeup was donated by volunteers in the community, Hines said.
The pageant includes four categories and a Miss Congeniality — which is voted on by the contestants, Hines said. One winner and a first and second runner-up are crowned for the Queen, Princess and Duchess categories. All contestants in the Countess category (youth under 7) are crowned.
Out of 35 contestants, Keely Jukes was crowned Queen, Briasya Yates won Princess, Tiffany Coleman won Duchess and Mekenzie Hughes won Miss Congeniality.
For more information, visit facebook.com/InnerBeautyProgramInc.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe graduated with a degree in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and her previous work includes freelancing for Indy Maven, Assistant Arts & Life Editor for The Lantern, and editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Chloe enjoys covering all things arts and culture — from local music, visual art, dance, theater and film, as well as minority-owned businesses. In her free time, Chloe enjoys reading, cooking and keeping her plants alive.
