By Doug Stauffer
As the spotlight focuses on newly crowned Khameela Layco-Mitchell and Kyleigh Rae Folta, World Class Pageantry (WCP) illuminates a larger vision. Beyond glamorous crowns and glittering gowns, this organization seeks to foster personal growth, community service and a commitment to higher causes.
Established in 2019 by Fort Walton Beach native Sherry Jones and Jula Ruhland from Thailand, World Class Pageantry is a beacon of positive transformation. With over four decades of combined pageant experience, Jones and Ruhland have successfully channeled their insights into cultivating values like leadership, integrity and service in young women.
The newly crowned Miss City of Fort Walton Beach, Khameela Layco-Mitchell, exemplifies such values. A Junior at Choctawhatchee High School with a fervor for dance and community engagement, Layco-Mitchell dazzles with her talent and dedication to service and education. On the younger side, nine-year-old Kyleigh Rae Folta embodies the spirit of WCP with her vivacious enthusiasm and budding commitment to community service with PAWS.
Each World Class Pageantry queen is encouraged to champion a platform. From safeguarding sea turtles to raising awareness about human trafficking, these platforms provide a conduit for change. Queens like Layco-Mitchell and Folta work to make tangible impacts in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Escambia County through volunteering, public appearances, and dedicated Facebook pages.
Besides its emphasis on community involvement, World Class Pageantry ensures its queens are given many opportunities to shine, from ribbon cuttings to parades and even as guest speakers at city council meetings. And it’s not all work! WCP’s dedication extends to celebrating the achievements of their queens with celebrations, horse and carriage rides, and more.
The organization’s affiliation with the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce amplifies its commitment to community service. WCP’s newest ambassadors, including Layco-Mitchell and Folta, will proudly represent Fort Walton Beach at city events, notably the forthcoming Christmas and Billy Bowlegs parades.
The Accent of Achievement award, the NSPIRE Community Leadership Award, and other accolades testify to WCP’s holistic approach to pageantry. It isn’t just about the external beauty. It’s about nurturing self-confidence, recognizing outstanding personal achievements, and emphasizing the importance of community engagement.
The tales of Sherry Jones and Jula Ruhland, the powerhouse duo behind WCP, are replete with experiences that underscore the transformative power of pageantry. From Jones’s entry into pageantry in 1982 to Ruhland’s early beginnings in local Thai pageants, their stories exemplify resilience, vision and an unyielding commitment to nurturing the next generation.
But as Jones, who also serves as Vice President for Parkinson Strong and supports One Hopeful Place, puts it, “If you want a rewarding life, invest in the growth and future of women around you.” World Class Pageantry does just that.
This mission to inspire doesn’t end locally. With plans afoot to crown queens in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, Thailand, the vision is clear: to craft a true World Class Pageant.
For a closer look at World Class Pageantry’s community initiatives and its new queens, visit www.worldclasspageants.com and browse through a captivating gallery that’s bound to challenge any preconceived notions about pageantry. Through its lens, one can see the convergence of grace, service, leadership and a commitment to societal change.
