2025 ROYALTY
WV Coal Festival Royalty
The WV Coal Festival is held each year in the spring order to prepare our royalty for their responsibilities to the festival and to the town. We expect our representatives to be spokespersons for our town, community and it’s citizens at a statewide level. Through appearances, community service, and activism we encourage our Royalty to emphasize tourism to our lovely town and dedicate themselves to a year of service to others.
CURRENT ROYAL COURT
OUR 2025 WV COAL FESTIVAL ROYAL COURT
QUEEN
Alyssa Smith
Alyssa is an 18 year old graduate of Poca High School. In her time there, she accumulated 30+ college credit hours, competed with the Poca Visual Volume Show Choir, became a national competitor with FBLA and FFA, was a member of all school honor societies, and maintained a 4.2 GPA. As a freshman at Marshall University, she will be in the Honors College and study marketing with an emphasis in digital marketing and analytics at the Lewis College of Business.
She’s excited to contribute to the growing marketing presence of the WV Coal Festival. Alyssa is thrilled to reign over the WV Coal Festival. She is excited to get to work and spread the message of coal’s importance in society, its importance to West Virginia’s communities, economy, and culture
MRS. QUEEN
Sara Stinnett
Sara Stinnett is Mrs. WV Coal Festival 2025! She is 43 years old and originally from Charleston, WV. She is an actress, singer, and educator. Since childhood, Sara has been an accomplished model appearing in print and television advertising. Sara has also been a regular commercial and film actress since 2006. You may have seen her in the film “Christmas at the Greenbrier”. During her senior year of college, she won Miss Marshall University Homecoming Queen and the first Marshall Idol which was a college version of American Idol. As a child and throughout her life, Sara grew up singing in the church as a former choir director, she sang in a recording studio and continues singing for various venues. Since Junior High, Sara has been a professional National Anthem singer and continues to perform locally.
Sara is a full-time Associate Professor of Human Anatomy and Physiology at BridgeValley Community and Technical College. She holds a master’s degree in Biological Sciences from Marshall University. She is a faculty advisor at BridgeValley for the internationally known Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Sara volunteers her time and service with the Honor Society and Women’s Club at her church. In addition, Sara enjoys fitness boxing, Zumba/dance, traveling, watching her boys play sports and gaming with her family. She lives in Putnam County with her wonderful husband Ash and three children. Sara is honored to represent the proud legacy of the coal industry here in the Mountain State.
MS. QUEEN
Grace Craze
Grace Craze is a 23-year-old incoming first-year medical student at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM), beginning her journey in July. A proud representative of the West Virginia Coal Industry, Grace honors the hardworking spirit and resilience of coal country. She is passionate about promoting preventative medicine and encouraging healthy lifestyle practices—especially in coalfield communities—aiming to uplift the health and well-being of the people who power our state.
TEEN QUEEN
Evan Mace
Hello everyone!! My name is Evan Mace, and I’m your newly crowned Wv Coal Festival Teen Queen for the 2025 year!! I’m an upcoming freshman at Parkersburg South High School, and I’m also apart of The South Colorguard team!
After highschool, I will work towards getting a degree in Criminology!! Outside of school I enjoy doing a variety of different activities such as, being a Twirl Force baton twirler, Cheerleader for my school, reading, coloring, crafts of any kind, and spending time with my loved ones!! I also enjoy volunteer opportunities that help others and my community! I am also a member of Blennerhassett Middle Schools Student Council, where I am currently the Vice president!
I am extremely excited to represent this title, and see where it takes me!! I look forward to meeting new people and making new friends!!
JR. TEEN
Harlee Houdersheldt
Hello! I’m Harlee Houdersheldt, your 2025 WV Coal Festival Jr. Teen.
I’m 12 years old and a proud student at Elkview Middle School, where I stay active as a varsity volleyball player and a member of the National Junior Honor Society. When I’m not studying or practicing, I enjoy shopping, modeling, and competing in pageants.
I’m honored to represent the West Virginia Coal Festival and help shine a light on the strength, pride, and tradition of our coal heritage. I look forward to traveling across the state, meeting new people, and sharing the story of our coal communities with pride!
LITTLE MISS
Evie Stark
Meet Evie, 2025 Little Miss WV Coal Festival
At just 8 years old, Evie has already proven that she’s a rising star with a heart of gold. A proud Summersville native, she’s a passionate and determined young girl who loves to shine both on and off the stage. From a very young age, she has been dedicated to her dreams, and her hard work and positive attitude have helped her develop her own community service platform called “Evie J wants to Cake your Day”. This is a program where Evie creates birthday cake kits and delivers them to food pantries so that everyone gets to have a birthday cake on their special day.
Outside of pageants, she enjoys gymnastics, soccer, basketball, swimming, reading and her babydolls. She’s a lover of animals and is always excited to try new things. When she’s not attending events, you can find her spending quality time with her family and friends, making memories and learning new lessons every day.
Evie is not just a pageant queen; she’s also a role model for kindness, confidence, and perseverance. She dreams of becoming a veterinarian one day, and she believes that with hard work and a kind heart, anything is possible.
Evie is so excited to represent Madison, WV and the 2025 WV Coal Festival. She loves seeing all the vendors, concerts and the carnival! She is already picking out cowboy boots to wear to the Aaron Tippin Concert!
Her motto : Kindness never goes out of style!
TINY MISS
Brixtin Wasmer
Brixtin Wasmer is a joyful and determined 5-year-old with a heart as big as her dreams. She proudly holds the titles of Tiny Miss WV Coal Festival, Miss West Virginia Elementary, and Miss Wild and Wonderful ARB. A state champion wrestler and passionate all star cheerleader, Brixtin also runs her own fresh egg business, Brixie Chicks. Through her platform, Brixtin Believes, she encourages kindness, stands up against bullying, and reminds others to be a light in the world. Whether she’s on the mat, the stage, or in the community, Brixtin leads with love, confidence, and a giving spirit.
TODDLER MISS
Wrenleigh Blaike Deel
Wrenleigh Blaike Deel is a spirited 2-year-old from Elkview, West Virginia. She loves doing pageants, riding her horses, and playing with her big brother. Wrenleigh is your 2025 Toddler Miss WV Coal Festival Queen, and she proudly held the titles of 2024 Madison Christmas Queen and 2025 WV State Grand Supreme Queen. With her sparkling smile and sweet personality, Wrenleigh shines on every stage she steps on!
WEE MISS
Caisley Rain Prince
Caisley Rain Prince is the 1 year old daughter of David and Rashelle Prince. Caisley is the granddaughter and daughter of coal miners, so she is honored to be representing the WV Coal Festival and the Coal mining industry. Caisley enjoys playing with her dolls and doll houses, playing on her swing set and driving her pink Jeep. She is looking forward to riding rides at the wv coal festival and seeing all the great fireworks!
BABY MISS
MaeLynn Grey Hartwell
MaeLynn Grey Hartwell is proud to represent the WV Coal Festival this year! MaeLynn is a bright light with a gentle heart and a big personality. Her family describes her as joyful, strong-willed, and full of wonder. Whether she’s flashing her sweet smile or exploring the world around her with wide eyes, MaeLynn charms everyone she meets. She’s excited to join in the fun and shine at all the coal festival events this year!
PAGEANT DIRECTOR
HEATHER CLAY ROUSH
Heather Clay Roush is the Pageant Director of the West Virginia Coal Festival.
With more than thirty years of experience in pageantry—as a contestant, coach, director, pageant mom, and sash designer—Heather brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to every event she leads. Her journey began as a teenage contestant in a local pageant, sparking a lifelong love for the industry. For over two decades, she has successfully produced and directed pageants across the region.
Today, Heather proudly focuses her energy on the WV Coal Festival Pageant—the only pageant she now directs—driven by her deep love for the festival, the community, and West Virginia’s proud coal and mining heritage. Supporting and celebrating the mining industry is a cause close to her heart, and she is honored to be part of an event that uplifts it each year.
Heather lives in South Charleston, West Virginia, with her two children, River and Reese. She holds a Bachelor's degree from West Virginia State University and works as a Physician Recruitment Coordinator with Vandalia Health at Charleston Area Medical Center.
In addition to her role as Pageant Director, Heather proudly serves as a Board Member for the West Virginia Coal Festival and a Board Member for the West Virginia Association of Fairs and Festivals, where she continues to support and advocate for events that bring people together and celebrate Appalachian culture across the state.
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