Taken from the Baylor County Banner

Gray Crowned Miss Sweetheart Elite 2012


On Saturday, May 19, 2012, the 2nd Annual Miss Sweetheart Special Needs Pageant was held at the Hillside Community Church in Keller, Texas.
The Miss Sweetheart Special Needs Pageant was founded by Malyn Bannister, a sophomore at Stephen F. Austin State University.  She has competed in numerous local, state and national pageants and is a true inspiration and role model to all who meet her.  Her older brother Colby has been blessed with the gift of Down Syndrome, and for most of her life Malyn has been actively striving to increase public awareness for individuals with intellectual disabilities.  At age 15, she had a vision of creating a special needs pageant to allow young ladies of all ages with intellectual disabilities the opportunities she has experienced participating in pageants.  At age 17 her dream came to life, and the first Miss Sweetheart Special Needs Pageant was held.  This pageant gives these special ladies the opportunity to gain life skills, communication skills, self confidence and much, much more.
This year Seymour's own Candice Gayle Gray was crowned Miss Sweetheart Elite 2012.  In order to express the positive impact the John Hostas family has had on Candice and the community, Candice gave her crown to Briley Hostas.  Every night Candice's mother Connie reads the Team Briley Blog to Candice, and Candice says a prayer for the Hostas family.  Candice certainly sacrificed something that she was so proud of because of the love she felt for Briley.
Candice is the daughter of Connie and Royce Woods of Seymour and Joe Gray of Vernon.  Also at the pageant were many friends and family supporting Candice in her endeavor.