Steve Owens / City of Greer
City council members had a pleasant start to its council meeting Tuesday night with the 2012 Miss Greater Greer and Miss Teen queens appearing to talk about their platforms and the summer's Miss South Carolina pageant. Left to right: Wryley Bettis (District 5), Wayne Griffin (District 2), Jay Arrowood (District 1), Judy Arnold (District 6), Kimberly Bookert (District 3), Mayor Rick Danner, Lauren Cabaniss (Miss Greater Greer), Lee Dumas (District 4) and Sydney Sill (Miss Greater Greer Teen).
Sydney Sill and Lauren Cabaniss model dresses at last weekend's Miss South Carolina Forum.
Lauren Cabaniss and Sydney Sill share the spotlight on a sunny day in Columbia. The event was the Miss South Carolina Forum and several hours of posing for photos in casual attire.
2012 Miss South Carolina and Teen beauty queens modeled gowns by Foxy Lady of Myrtle Beach.
Cabaniss gave city council members a beauty pageant smile and and offered," It will be. I will bring the title back with me." Cabaniss is a two-time Miss Greater Greer Teen (2005 & 2007).
The context of Cabaniss' comment was delivered matter-of-fact. Cabaniss has been focused on the 2012 Miss South Carolina pageant since she finished third runnerup last year. She won the overall and preliminary swimsuit competition in Columbia.
Cabaniss, and Miss Greater Greer Teen, Sydney Sill, appeared at what is an annual tradition of the queens, introducing themselves to council and talking about their platforms.
The 20-year-old Cabaniss got a laugh from council and visitors when she mentioned she is junior at the University of South Carolina but a die-hard Clemson fan. "I went to USC because I am interested in professional dance. I am taking advance dance and ballet. Unfortunately, Clemson does not have a dance program."
Cabaniss has a personal stake in the "Dine Out and Donate" charity arm of the Children's Miracle Network. "I came very close to losing my two cousins last year in the train wreck. I'm glad to say, with the help of programs like "Dine Out and Donate" they are thriving and doing wonderfully today."
A children's train ride at Cleveland Park in Spartanburg derailed last March 20, killing a 6-year-old Gaffney boy and sending 28 people, mostly children, to the hospital.
Cabaniss said her pageant team is tweaking her programs and competition appearances.
Sill and Cabaniss were in Columbia last weekend for the annual Miss South Carolina forum.
Sill is also a favorite headed into the Miss Teen pageant. She was second runner-up in the 2011 Miss Teen contest competing as Miss Greater Lyman. She won overall sportswear and won her preliminary in physical fitness.
Sill's platform is, "If you believe it, you can achieve it." "It inspires kids to reach for their dreams."