OKEECHOBEE- The pageant Crowns for a Cure raised $16,000 for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation at the second annual event in Okeechobee on April 2.

The pageant also donated $1,000 to KOA Care Camps as a way of thanking the Okeechobee KOA Resort for hosting the event.

Gracie Hutson was crowned Miss Teen Okeechobee, Alivia Lee Miss Okeechobee , Brooke Phillips Junior Miss Okeechobee, Amelia Brulisaur Little Miss Okeechobee, Avery King Mini Miss Okeechobee, and Oneisha Tiger Tiny Miss Okeechobee. Patricia Entry was chosen as Most Inspirational.

Each of the pageant's winners received over $350 worth of prizes and modeling contracts. Miss Teen Okeechobee, Gracie Hutson, also won a $1,000 scholarship to Indian River State College. Alivia Lee, Miss Okeechobee, was awarded the opportunity to compete at Miss Florida Teen USA.

Jhennie Baker fundraised the most out of all 76 contestants.

During the inaugural Crowns for a Cure the event raised $9,000 for juvenile diabetes. Crowns for a Cure was founded and organized by former Miss Okeechobee USA Taylor Fulford, who wanted to use the pageant to raise funds and awareness for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Taylor was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 14, and used the inaugural Crowns for a Cure and her title as Miss Okeechobee USA as a megaphone to bring more awareness for not just type 1 diabetes, but also type 2 and how to prevent it by living a healthy lifestyle.

After providing support to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Crowns for a Cure is planning on holding another pageant next year in support of a new cause.

Former Miss Okeechobee Princess Rowan Cortes was awarded Most Involved out of all the previous titleholders for making over 10 appearances throughout …