COEUR d'ALENE - Rachel Olvera let her mother wipe a tear from her cheek Friday night as she took in the moment of being dubbed Coeur d'Alene Junior Miss.

Gazing off the stage where she had performed with 22 of her peers at the Coeur d'Alene Junior Miss Scholarship Program, the Lake City High School student said she was overwhelmed.

"I think it was just my positive attitude to represent Coeur d'Alene and be Junior Miss," said Rachel, 17, of how she earned the title and a $2,500 scholarship. "It's been such a great experience to support all the girls."

Her father, Steve, added that Rachel has poured everything into achieving her best, whether in school or otherwise.

"She works hard. She's just a great student, she works at Super 1. She's just applied herself," he said, tears brimming in his eyes.

Rachel, whose talent was reading French poetry and who touts career goals in nuclear medicine, said she isn't worried about how she will perform at the state Junior Miss competition in early November at North Idaho College.

"I'll just be grateful for the opportunity to meet the other girls," she said with a smile.

The evening of talent, poise and fitness competitions garnered tears from other contestants, as well, like runner-up Mackenzie Murray from Coeur d'Alene High School.

"I felt like any of the girls could be up here," said Murray, who will receive a $1,500 scholarship. "We all agreed backstage that it didn't matter who won, we would all cheer for each other."

Finalist Kelly Condon, who earned a $1,000 scholarship, said she surprised herself by doing so well.

"I learned I have a lot more in me than I thought I did," Condon said. "I took a lot on this year. I was in a show and Junior Miss and full honor classes, and I'm still here. I'm done. It's so exciting."

The buoyant contestants made for a challenging competition. Disparate talents of the program included monologues, fencing, painting, martial arts, a balance beam act and reciting a speech while solving a Rubik's Cube.

Friends and family in the packed auditorium of Coeur d'Alene High School tested the max of their vocal chords throughout.

Paul Leonard, who emceed the event with his daughter, Madison - last year's Coeur d'Alene Junior Miss - said he was amazed by the evening's performances.

"You know, I've been to a lot of these, willingly and unwillingly, and without exaggerating, I've never seen a more talented body of participants," Paul said.

The 53rd national Junior Miss competition will be held in Mobile, Ala., in late June, when girls from all 50 states will compete for a share of at least $150,000 in cash scholarships.

Young women who receive the title of Junior Miss must boast many talents, he added.

"The ones who win really have to be well rounded. The competition includes scholarship and interview as well as talent," he said. "She can't be a one-trick magician and win. She has to be strong in all areas to rise to the top."