Photo by Hunter Wilson/Daily News The 2009 winner of Miss Southern Kentucky Fair, Megan Kasama, 17, of Bardstown, smiles Sunday as 2008 winner, Kelli Rush, crowns her during the Miss Southern Kentucky Fair beauty pageant at Warren Central High School.

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After having what she described as a “down week,” Megan Kasama ended Sunday night as a winner, earning the crown for the 2009 Miss Southern Kentucky Fair and capping the first night of a week’s worth of events at the fair.

Kasama, 17, of Bardstown took top honors among a field of 40 contestants ages 16 to 22 that had been whittled down to 15 finalists.

The Nelson County High School senior said a pep talk from her mother helped her through the pageant.

“I was feeling down and out, but my mom was like, ‘why don’t you do tonight’s pageant and have some fun with it,’ ” said Kasama, who wants to attend the University of Kentucky and study nursing. “This has been an amazing experience.”

Beauty pageants dominated opening day for this year’s Southern Kentucky Fair, with Warren Central High School turning into center stage for dozens of contestants, from infants to adults.

For being crowned Miss Southern Kentucky Fair, Kasama received $350 in cash, roses, a silver tray, a crown and sash, and will compete at the Miss Kentucky County Fair Pageant in Louisville in January.

Last year’s Miss Southern Kentucky Fair, Kelli Rush, went on to win the state competition.

Beauty pageant chair Tara Griffith said the pageants serve as a good opening note for the annual fair.

“It’s a fun way for parents to bring their children out and showcase them,” Griffith said.

Proceeds from the fair, through ticket and DVD sales, will be returned to the community through the many events organized throughout the year by the Warren County Jaycees, Griffith said.

Contestants in the Miss SOKY Pageant received half their score from the swimsuit competition, a panel of judges awarding points based on physical fitness, poise, stage presentation, personality, posture and attire.

In the second half, the contestants returned in evening wear.

The 15 finalists each answered a question drawn at random.

Kasama, asked what she did to make a difference in someone’s life in the last three days, talked about a recent trip to the Caribbean during which she met a man who had lost an arm and took him to lunch.

Jordan Oliphant, 18, of Scottsville was the first runner-up for Miss SOKY Fair, and was followed by second runner-up Chelsea Killman, 16, of Somerset, third-runner up Amy Allbaugh, 20, of Richmond and fourth runner-up, Stephanie Hagan, 17, of Tompkinsville.

Other pageants from Sunday in which the winners advance to a statewide competitor included the Little Mister and Miss SOKY Fair Pageant, won by Abigail Rather, 6, of Scottsville and Gage Turner, 6, of Bowling Green; the Miss Pre-Teen SOKY Fair, won by Alana Copas, 11, of Bowling Green; Miss Teen SOKY Fair, won by Mallory Baldwin, 13, of Madisonville; and the Mrs. SOKY Fair for married contestants ages 18 and up, won by Jennifer Bailey, 27, of Bowling Green, a spa and salon owner.

“I’m very proud and I want to thank everybody who helped me through this,” said Copas, a sixth-grade student at Lost River Elementary School.

Other pageant winners included:

Amanda Giles, 27, of Columbia, Ms. SOKY Fair (for contestants ages 22-29);

Trinity Vigil, 6, of Smiths Grove, Princess Miss SOKY Fair (for girls ages 5-7);

Kylie Steelman, 4, of Bowling Green, Tiny Miss SOKY Fair (for girls ages 2-4);

Zachary Morel, 3, of Bowling Green, Tiny Mister SOKY Fair (for boys ages 2-4);

Lillie Wallace, 15 months, of Bowling Green, Miss Tot Girls SOKY Fair (for girls ages 12-23 months);

Miles Burr, 15 months, of Bowling Green, Mister Baby Boys SOKY Fair (for boys ages 0-23 months);

Kennedie Stanton, 5 months, of Canmer, Miss Baby Girls SOKY Fair (for girls ages 0-11 months).

Carnival rides open at 6 p.m. today at the fairgrounds at Lampkin Park, and events for tonight include MotoX racing at the track and a beef cattle show in the ag building.

Admission is $10 a person, and $8 a person Tuesday with a canned food item.