Matti McCartney crowned Miss Quincy 2025, Gerard crowned Miss Quincy’s Teen for second time

QUINCY — It wasn’t until her first pageant in her senior year of high school that Matti McCartney shared she had dyslexia. Saturday night, with dyslexia awareness as her community service initiative, she was crowned Miss Quincy 2025.

She follows in the footsteps of Miss Quincy 2024, Nicole Taylor.

The first thing on McCartney’s to-do list is to make a special phone call to a special little girl — one who approached her at the last pageant she competed in to say that dyslexia was something she struggled with, too, and that she felt like it held her back.

“My first plan is to call her and be like, ‘You can do anything! We just proved it!’” McCartney said.

McCartney’s passion for her platform was apparent Saturday night at Quincy Community Theatre, where she competed with six other girls for the title. In addition to advocating for dyslexia awareness during her on-stage question and in her interview, she dedicated her talent performance to it as well. 

“I felt scared to read in front of others, so I wanted to show that to the judges and make people feel like they were really in my shoes,” McCartney said.

Her performance began with stories of being a child in the classroom who would anxiously await her turn to read, palms sweating and heart racing.

“One, two, three, four — four people until it’s my turn to read,” McCartney began. 

The story transformed into one of triumph as she spoke of gaining confidence by sharing her story and connecting with others who had the same struggles with reading. McCartney put on a white jacket with the name of her platform, “Reading Between the Lines,” scripted in hot pink sparkles as she concluded her performance, revealing she was on her way to becoming a speech pathologist. 

In addition to winning the crown, McCartney was the recipient of the Woman of Impact Award, which recognizes outstanding dedication to a delegate’s community service initiative. 

The 20-year-old attends college at Western Governors University, an online college based in Utah. She hails from Pittsfield and is the daughter of Michael and Crystal McCartney. Among a list of prizes, McCartney will receive a $3,000 scholarship.

Emma Dalke, 24, will receive a $500 scholarship as the first runner-up.  She also received the Frank Haxel Performing Arts Scholarship for having the highest vocal or instrumental performance score, which she garnered with a vocal performance of a number from the musical “Fantasia.”

Jasmine Cobb, 22, will receive a $300 scholarship as the second runner-up. Cobb also won the People’s Choice Award, the Top Program Book and Sales Award and the Digital Strategist Award for the work she did prior to the pageant on social media to showcase her brand and community service.

Molly Gerard, the 17-year-old daughter of Miranda and Brandon Gerard, won Miss Quincy’s Teen — again. 

It’s the second time the Pittsfield High School student has held the title, the first was in 2023. She was crowned by Miss Quincy’s Teen 2024 Alexis Lucie, who Gerard herself crowned just one year ago.

Gerard will receive a $1,000 scholarship, among other prizes. In addition to reclaiming her title, Gerard won the Top Program Book and Sales Award, People’s Choice Award and the Woman of Impact Award. 

Her community service initiative is entitled “Leap of Faith,” which advocates for dancers with cancer. In response to her on-stage question, Gerard committed to making a direct donation to an individual dancer with cancer within the first few weeks of her year of service.

Lillie Brown, 15, will receive a $300 scholarship as the first runner-up. Brown was also the recipient of the Digital Strategist Award. She is the daughter of Ted and Sissy Brown and is homeschooled.

Anika Reddy, 16, will receive a $200 scholarship as the second runner-up. She attends Quincy Senior High School and is the daughter of Sudha and Venu Reddy.

Several little girls — 18, to be exact — between the ages of three and ten were crowned Miss Quincy’s Gems 2025. (The program is non-competitive for its youngest age group.) 

This year’s collection of gems stated that when they grow up, they’d like to be: 

• an artist;
• a princess;
• a dance instructor;
• a lawyer;
• a unicorn;
• a teacher;
• a mommy;
• an astronaut;
• a hair dresser;
• a doctor;
• a chef;
• and “the boss.”

Presley Aubuchon, the five-year-old daughter of Katherine and William Aubuchon, received the award for Most Photogenic.

Rich Cain and Emily Reuschel hosted the event, and a panel of six judges chose the winners:

• Jack Freiburg,
• Aiden McDonnell,
• Kristin Dreasler Niemann,
• Brynn Selser,
• Rachel Shimkus,
• and Terri Karch.

The theme of the evening was “An Evening in the Emerald City” and featured several prominent guests, including Miss Indiana 2022 Eliza Hallal, who gave a special performance of “Defying Gravity,” Kimberly Page, who performed a special dance with Miss Quincy’s Gems as Glinda, speed painter Matt Lovell and, of course, Dorothy and Toto. 

Gerard and McCartney will now both advance to Miss Illinois in their respective divisions. The pageant is scheduled to take place in Marion, Ill. in June.