SMILING FACES WIN MALL CONTEST

Lexie Todt isn't one for beauty contests. Her mother, Lori, had to keep reminding her to smile Saturday.

The coaching worked as the Oran pair won first place in the mother-young-daughter, look-alike contest at West Park Mall.

Another mother-daughter team from Oran -- Kitty Prindle and 17-year-old daughter Lindi -- won first place in the mother-older daughter contest.

Lori Todt was just as happy for them. "We're real good friends," she said.

Lori and 11-year-old Lexie sported American-flag-design shirts.

"Normally, we don't dress alike," said Lori. She said her daughter is a tomboy.

Both like to be outdoors. "We like to do a lot of bicycling," said Lori.

Lexie said she wasn't ready for another beauty pageant. But she said she was ready to use the shopping gift certificate handed out to the winners by the mall.

The Prindles also said they aren't in the habit of dressing alike.

But for the contest, they sported identical, white polka-dot dresses. "We got many stares when walking through the mall," said a smiling Lindi.

Aleshia Musgrave of Chaffee and her mother, Linda McKinley of Scott City, took second in the mother-older daughter contest for the second year in a row.

They wore the same dark blue, matching outfits that they competed in last year. The pair said they plan to compete again next year.

"It was fun," said McKinley.

The third annual contest featured 25 entries in the mother-young daughter category and 11 in the mother-older daughter division.

A crowd gathered around the mall stage to watch the event.

"I think it is just something fun that the community enjoys," said Suzanne Yoder, marketing director for West Park Mall.

She said the contest gets people in the mood for Mother's Day.

"It helps generate sales for us," said Yoder. "Contestants will come to the mall to look for matching outfits."

For the contestants, the real attraction is the chance to win the shopping gift certificates.

"I think the gift certificates entice people," Yoder said.