Mackenzie Davis, 5, right, smiles for an adoring crowd Saturday afternoon at East Hills Shopping Center moments after being named the 2008 Little Miss East Hills. Alexys Minton, 6, left, was one of two runners-up.

The only thing bigger than Mackenzie Davis’ smile was the trophy she held (or tried to hold) in her arms.

Mackenzie topped a field of 54 girls for the title of Little Miss East Hills on Saturday at East Hills Shopping Center.

Her prize: a trophy that came all the way up to her nose. Not bad for a girl that hadn’t competed in a pageant since she was a baby.

“She was in a baby show when she was eight months old,” said Mackenzie’s mother, Amanda Impens. “She got a little trophy then. This one is bigger.”

Mackenzie charmed the judges with her smile and a jeweled black dress that she picked out herself.

When the emcee asked Mackenzie what she wanted to be when she grew up, Mackenzie thought long and hard before she gave her answer.

“A teacher,” she said. “I want to teach people.”

Mackenzie, 5, will start kindergarten this fall. She is the daughter of Aaron and Amanda Impens, of St. Joseph.

The two princesses — or runners-up — were Breanna Simpson, 5, of Troy, Kan., and Alexys Minton, 6, of St. Joseph.

Contestants were judged on personality, appearance, composure and anything else that made the audience say ‘Aww-how-sweet.’ Four rounds of questions and answers narrowed the field from 54 to 25, then to 12 and then the final six. As expected, the girls gave the crowd plenty of cute answers. One question asked the girls what they would buy with $1 million.

“A turtle,” Macy Bernard said.

Last year’s winner, Darian Duncan, said her favorite part about being Little Miss East Hills was when she got to help Santa set up for Christmas at the mall. Before the final round of judging, the emcee asked Darian one final question.

“Does it make you sad that your year is over?”

“Yeah, it does,” Darian said.

Clinton Thomas can be reached at clintonthomas@npgco.com.