AMBOY – Alexis Cheever and Brooklyn Strub had the same reaction when their names were called.

Strub asked first, but when Cheever was announced as the 2024 Miss Amboy on Thursday, Aug. 22, she asked the same question Strub did when she was named First Runner-Up.

“Honestly, I’m still in shock. I still can’t believe it happened. It’s one of those, ‘Oh my gosh, it really happened,’ kind of moments,” Cheever said. “When they announced my name, I turned around and looked at Brianna Henkel (last year’s Miss Amboy who crowned this year’s winners) and asked, ‘Are you positive?’ When she gave me a hug and said yes, I thought about my grandpa’s (Thomas Bopes) favorite quote, ‘This is neater than heck.’

“I’m really honored to have this opportunity. I hope I make my family and friends proud.”

Cheever was optimistic going into the pageant.

She had every right to be as her personality and her speech won the crowd and the judges.

“To hear how everyone reacted to my speech means a lot because my speech meant a lot to me,” Cheever said. “A lot of people are relating to the concept of not understanding of who I am and the tiara line. At the end instead of saying to find yourself and be yourself, I said, ‘Wear a tiara on a random Tuesday.’

“There are a lot of activities and responsibilities with being Miss Amboy. I feel everyone’s eyeballs watching me. All of the little girls look at me and call me a princess. It’s a great feeling.

Miss Amboy and First Runner-Up have an interesting, intertwining story.

In the sixth grade, Strub moved to Amboy at the beginning of the school year. Cheever transferred a week later. The two became quick friends as they walked the Amboy Junior High School hallways aimlessly together as they didn’t know what they were doing or where they were going.

“I am having so much fun. Knowing that I’m having a positive influence, it just makes me happy. I’m so ecstatic to be runner-up,” Strub said. “I’m so proud of Alexis for getting Miss Amboy. I think I’m happier with her getting it than I would have been if I was Miss Amboy.

“It has been so much fun because I get to see the littles. During the parade one of the kids yelled, ‘That’s my day camp teacher,’ since I was at Kiddie Clippers this summer.”

“I looked at Brianne and asked, ‘Are you positive.’ I didn’t believe it. I didn’t know what was happening. I didn’t know what to do.”

Fast forward to their senior years of high school and the two were once again walking aimlessly.

This time with tiaras on their heads and smiles on their faces because of their achievements during Miss Amboy.

“For the pageant, I messaged Brooklyn so many times because she was Miss Congeniality last year and had done all of this before,” Cheever said. “I asked her a lot of questions. She was quick to respond and help me out.

The 2024 Miss Congeniality is Emilie Dempsey, who was First Runner-Up last year.

Little Mr. is Maverick Hellquist, Little Miss is Clarissa Brokaw, and Jr. Miss is Olivia Henkel.

“My numbers went up by a few kids, as a whole, so that was good. That means I’m striving and doing what I need to do to make the pageant bigger and better,” said Miss Amboy Director Ashley Grim. “On Tuesday night, there were shy kids who I was shocked they asked their parents if they could be part of it. I think the big thing is, when I allow them to go on stage and say their name and their age, they’re really coming out of their comfort zone.

“That’s really important for kids because it’s only shaping them and making them grow to where they’re in high school and will want to be part of Miss Amboy again.”