Former Miss Ponca City’s Teen and Tonkawa resident Emmie Harnden competed for the 2024 Miss Oklahoma’s Teen crown at River Spirit Resort in Tulsa this weekend. 34 teens from across the state competed for the chance to represent Oklahoma and for the chance to compete at the Miss America’s Teen competition later this year. Ms. Harnden represented the Tulsa area as Ms. Brookside’s Teen this year. (Competitors cannot hold a title more than once and Emmie was Miss Ponca City’s Teen in 2023) The competition was not clear cut and there was plenty of drama. In the preliminary competition, Emmie performed her talent “Astonishing” from the musical Little Women and right before the big notes at the end of the song, her microphone popped off of her face meaning the audience had to really listen in to hear her over the incredible sound system at River Spirit. No one knows how that affected the scoring for the competition, but Emmie finished her song strong and pulled it together for later phases of competition.Would this technical glitch cause her to miss out on the Top 12? 9 other finalists were announced before Emmie’s name was called and many of those left on the stage were veterans of the Top 12 in years past. Emmie was the 10th finalist announced and the first time a current or former Miss Ponca City has made the finals of Miss Oklahoma or Miss O’s Teen.Time for redemption. After shaking off the shock and awe of the moment, Emmie first calmly and intelligently answered an onstage question about the effects of TikTok and then was able to perform her talent again. This time, she double checked her mic tape and made sure everyone in the auditorium heard her powerful vocals, with many giving her a standing ovation.Sasha Reedy, Emmie’s mother, said “I would have been very pleased with Top 12. This was a huge step for Emmie.” After intermission, it was time to cut 12 down to 5. Emmie was the 2nd name listed, putting her in the Top 5.Emmie was later named 2024 Miss Oklahoma’s Teen 4th runner up, the highest rank of any current or former Miss Ponca City.Other competitors with local connections are Miss Ponca City Kristen Buck, Miss Ponca City’s Teen Addie Kyler, Miss Heartland Katie Swanston, Miss Heartland’s Teen Lily Taylor, former Miss Ponca City’s Emma Valgora (Miss Edmond) and Lexi ...
