GALLIPOLIS — Hailee Swain is a believer in being yourself, and that conviction helped judges decide to name her the queen of the 2009 Gallipolis River Recreation Festival.

Swain accepted the title at the conclusion of the annual queen pageant Thursday on the Main Stage, and was crowned by 2008 Queen Alex Clark.

During the pageant, master of ceremonies Melvin Biars asked Swain that if she had the responsibility of talking to a group of 12-year-old boys, what topic would she choose.

“I would talk to them about being true to themselves and to never give in to pressure,” she responded. “Being yourself is the best choice.”

The daughter of Billy and Tabby Swain, the new queen is a senior at South Gallia High School who has participated in basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, Beta Club, National Honor Society, PRIDE, National History Day, SCORES and numerous other activities.

She is also involved in various community efforts, not the least of which is Operation Christmas Child, which she discussed during her on-stage interview. Swain has participated in the program through her church, Mercerville Baptist, for seven years.

She described the experience as “an opportunity to share God’s love with someone in another part of the world.”

As queen, Swain will represent the festival at fairs and other expositions around Ohio and the region. She will also receive a $500 scholarship as queen, scholarships for $250 apiece from State Farm Insurance and Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative, and a $1,000 scholarship from the University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College, in addition to a savings bond from Farmers Bank and Savings Co.

In the coming year, Swain will be accompanied by her court, which consists of first runner-up Alisa Johnson, second runner-up and Miss Congeniality Carly Atkins, and third runner-up Amanda Jarvis.

Members of the court will also receive scholarships.

Johnson is the daughter of Andrea Bailey-Johnson and John John Johnson Jr., and is a senior at South Gallia. Atkins, daughter of Greg Atkins and Heather Robinson, is a senior at Gallia Academy High School, and Jarvis, daughter of Suzanne and Gary Jarvis, is a senior at GAHS.

Other contestants were Brianna Smith, daughter of Cami and Mike Smith and a senior at River Valley High School; Lindsey Johnson, daughter of Rick and Patrice Johnson and a senior at SGHS; Brittany Chapman, daughter of Terry and Donna Chapman and senior at SGHS; Amber Gilbert, daughter of Jerri and the late James Gilbert and a senior at RVHS; and Molly Carroll, daughter of John and Karla Carroll and a senior at GAHS.

In remarks to the audience, outgoing queen Clark, who graduated from GAHS in May, reflected on the past year as “amazing,” and credited her 2008 court for making the experience fun.

The court included Ashley Miller, Brooke Howell and Annee Carman, all present for the pageant.

“We just had a really good year,” Clark said. “I’m going to miss them.”