Rachelle Sweet, Miss Washtenaw County 2009

Rachelle Sweet, 22, of Tecumseh, took home top honors at the Miss Washtenaw County scholarship pageant Saturday at Chelsea High School. The win was particularly emotional for Sweet, "It's surreal. This was my eleventh pageant and I was just beginning to think it wasn't going to happen... I'm just so excited."

Sweet holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and is currently pursuing her MBA at Eastern Michigan University. Her platform is Start Fit, Stay Fit, an educational program on the importance of healthy living. Sweet has already partnered with schools in her home town and says she's looking forward to bringing the program to Washtenaw County.

The title comes with a $2500 cash scholarship, as well as in-kind scholarships to Eastern Michigan University, Washtenaw Community College, and Cleary University. Sweet was also awarded an all-expense paid trip to the 2010 Miss Michigan Pageant and a Vie: Fitness & Spa package valued at over $7000.

The Miss Washtenaw County Scholarship Program is a local franchise of the Miss Michigan and Miss America Organizations. Since its establishment in 1995, the organization has awarded nearly $100,000 in scholarships to young women who live, work, or attend school in Washtenaw or Livingston Counties.

Other Top Finishers:

First runner-up, Nina Davuluri, 20, $1200.

Second runner-up, Becky Muscato, 22, $800.

Third runner-up, Bridget Beattie, 21, $600.

Fourth runner-up, Nicole McGowan, 17, $400.

For booking information, please contact Laura Bloomensaat at mwced1@msn.com.

Gina Valo is a regular contributor to AnnArbor.com and a former Miss Washtenaw County. She can be reached at secondfiddleblog@gmail.com or 734-743-1783.