Wednesday preliminary winner announced at Miss South Carolina, Miss South Carolina Teen pageants

Four preliminary winners were announced after the second night of preliminary competition on Wednesday at Township Auditorium.

The Miss South Carolina and Miss South Carolina Teen pageants will continue this week with one more night of preliminary competition on Thursday at 7 p.m.

The final competition for the Teens is at 7 p.m. Friday when the new Miss South Carolina Teen will be crowned. The final competition for the Miss contestants starts with a pre-show at 8 on Saturday when the new Miss South Carolina will be crowned.

Preliminary rounds are being held this week in Columbia, in advance of this weekend’s Miss South Carolina and Miss South Carolina Teen pageants at The Township.

Wednesday’s winners include:

▪ Miss Clemson, Rachel Wyatt, 21, from Piedmont, won the Wednesday Talent preliminary in the Miss South Carolina competition. She performed a jazz dance to “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”

▪ Miss Charleston Southern University, Amelia McCulloch, 20, from Hanahan, won the Wednesday swimsuit preliminary in the Miss South Carolina competition.

▪ Miss Greenville Scottish Games Teen, Keegan Beane, 17, from Easley, won the Wednesday talent preliminary in the Miss South Carolina Teen competition. She performed a contemporary dance to “Rise Up.”

▪ Miss Laurens County Teen, Davis Wash, 15, from Edgefield, won the Wednesday evening gown/onstage question preliminary in the Miss South Carolina Teen competition.

Miss South Carolina 2016 will compete for the title of Miss America in Atlantic City, N.J., in September. Miss South Carolina Teen 2016 will compete for the title of Miss America’s Outstanding Teen in Orlando, Fla., in August.

The annual pageant features contestants from around the Palmetto State. Tickets start at $32.50 for teen finals, $37.50 for miss finals. 1703 Taylor St. www.miss-sc.org or www.thetownship.org

This story was originally published June 23, 2016 at 9:13 AM.