Eley wins preliminary Miss Ohio-USA title

DAYTON — Middle Point native Ayla Eley, 20, recently competed in the Miss Ohio-USA preliminary pageant held in Dayton this past weekend.

Eley was among 108 women competing for the three titles of Miss Northern Ohio, Miss Central Ohio and Miss Southern Ohio. The winner from each region had her entire entry fee paid and advanced to the Miss Ohio-USA pageant, to be held at the Vern Riffe Convention Center in Portsmouth.

Counties were separated into three regions, with Van Wert County competing in the Northern Region.

Eley won the crown and title of Miss Northern Ohio and will be representing her region in the Miss Ohio-USA pageant, to be held November 9-10.

Eley is currently a student at The Ohio State University in Columbus majoring in fashion and retail studies, with a focus area in product development and design and a minor in entrepreneurship. She is employed by Premier Jewelry as a high fashion designs independent jeweler.

The Van-Del Drive-In and Boyd Theatres sponsored her in the pageant.