Four young women won crowns on Saturday, August 1 and they will serve for the next year as Gastonia's and Gaston County's beauty queens.

Mikhaila Leinbach captured the Miss Gastonia title and Shaina Anderson was crowned Miss Gaston County. Hannah Baldwin is the new Miss Gastonia's Outstanding Teen and Lauren Hossfeld won Miss Gaston County's Outstanding Teen. They will compete in the 2010 Miss North Carolina and Miss North Carolina's Outstanding Teen Pageants next summer in Raleigh.

Leinbach, 19, is the daughter of Laurence and Carla Leinbach of Charlotte and attends Columbia University. In addition to winning the crown, Leinbach earned the community service award for her efforts to bring attention to domestic violence.

Anderson, 19, is the daughter of Detta Hoyle of Mount Holly. She is a graduate of North Gaston High School and attends the Aveda Institute in Charlotte. Anderson, whose community service project helps children cope with the impact of divorce, won the swimsuit competition.

Jessica Fife of Mount Holly was the first runner-up, Meagan Balsom of Gastonia earned second runner-up and the talent award, and Montreal Barnette of Kings Mountain finished third runner-up. Verhonda Crawford, a student at Gardner-Webb University, won the congeniality award. Other contestants were Christin Floyd, Victoria Melvin and Paris Floyd of Gastonia, Brianne Silvers of Belmont, and Audrey Horne of Hickory.

Baldwin is the 13-year-old daughter of John and Jeanie Baldwin of Bessemer City. She is a homeschool student whose community service issue promotes the importance of pet adoption. Hossfeld is the 16-year-old daughter of Tammie Griffin of Kernersville and attends East Forsyth High School. Her community service project establishes afterschool dance programs for children and teens.

Megan Rainwater of Gastonia was the first runner-up and Hailey Rotenberry of Kings Mountain was the second runner-up in the Outstanding Teen division. Other contestants were Lauren Farris of Gastonia, Ashley Conner of Lowell, Lydia Shook of Lincolnton and Lauren Jolly of Dallas.

Young women ages 17-24 who live, attend school or work full-time in Gaston, Cleveland, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rutherford, Catawba or Caldwell counties are eligible to enter Miss Gastonia. The Outstanding Teen program is for girls ages 13-17 who are N.C. residents - the teen contestants do not have to live in a particular county.

Former Miss Gastonia winners, including Jessica Floyd (2005), Emily McCotter Marlowe (1999), Charlotte Hunt Friday (1995 and 1997), Sharon Jarvis Moss (1979), Sandria Whitworth (1966) and Gwen Pearson Falls (1959) were recognized during the pageant. Falls was presented a Miss America pin and replica crown to comemmorate 50 years since her crowning. Floyd and Miss Gaston County 2007 Nicole Southgate Lowe hosted the competition and N.C. House Representative Pearl Burris-Floyd was a special guest.