LITTLETON — On Saturday night, the third annual Miss Littleton Area Scholarship Pageant crowned a winner, Linda Montminy, from Gorham. Montminy competed against five other area contestants for the title, and will compete in the Miss New Hampshire contest in the spring.

Montminy and the other contestants, Rebecca Abbott of Littleton, Felicia Arsenault of Berlin, Kendra Bailey of Littleton, Mallory Coulombe of Gorham and Taylor Morello of Littleton, competed in five categories on which they were judged. They were an afternoon interview, on-stage questions during the show, a talent competition, a lifestyle and fitness competition, and an evening gown competition.

Montminy will receive a $500 scholarship for winning the competition. First runner-up Morello will receive a $150 scholarship, and second runner-up Arsenault will receive a $100 scholarship.

This year's competition was in the Littleton High School gymnasium and boasted the most contestants. In the first year there were five contestants, and three contestants at last year's competition.

Speaking before the competition, pageant director Dennis Hartwell spoke of his excitement about the growth of the contest in its third year.

“This year is by far our best year,” said Hartwell. “It's going to be phenomenal this year.”

According to Hartwell, the scholarship and competition is still in the early stages, but growing every year.

“It's still a growing process,” said Hartwell. “The local chapter is still young enough. It's a matter of getting the word out there and letting the local community know it exists.”

To try to increase publicity, Hartwell noted that the pageant has been able to get each year's winner to attend as many local events as possible, including the Littleton Antique Car Show in September.

There were performances by each of the contestants, as well as a tap dance performance from Miss New Hampshire, Megan Lyman. Lyman is from the Lakes Region and will represent the state in the Miss America competition in January in Las Vegas.

Throughout the pageant, Lyman offered words of encouragement and support to the contestants. Also attending the pageant were three girls representing regional, as well as state, Miss America Outstanding Teens.

The pageant also was attended by the 2011 Miss Littleton, Skylar Wood, who recounted her experience in the local and state Miss America pageant as “one I wouldn't change for the world.”

Hartwell commented on the camaraderie and hard work of all of the contestants throughout the competition.

“They're all competing against each other, but they've all become friends with each other,” said Hartwell. “The whole experience is good for speaking and good for confidence. It's good for them.”