Contestants surround the newly crowned Miss Oregon Alexis Mather during the Miss Oregon competition on Saturday in Seaside.

SEASIDE — Young women from around the state gathered at the Seaside Civic and Convention Center on Saturday evening for a shot at royalty. After months of anticipation and a night full of competition, Miss Portland Alexis Mather, was named 2016 Miss Oregon. The Astoria native impressed judges in the fields of swimsuit competition, evening gown, on-stage response, as well as with her talent performance when she sang opera.

For Mather, this moment being crowned cumulated years of preparation, as she has been competing in pageants since 2009.

“It’s ultimately a whirlwind, all I can think about is all the people that helped me get her,” she said after the competition.

Mather will receive a scholarship of $10,000 and move on to represent the state at the Miss America contest in Atlantic City, New Jersey In September.