MOBILE, ALA. — The opening night of America’s Junior Miss saw physical fitness, self expression and talent routines from the 50 competitors. Ohio’s Junior Miss, Yelena Arishina of Centerburg, completed physical fitness and self expression. Tonight will be reversed and she will present her talent, a piano solo.

There was a full house of enthusiastic supporters representing the 50 states. Supporting Arishina from the audience were her parents, Greg Myers and Marina Arishina; her sister, Marina, who traveled from Jacksonville College to support her; as well as board members and volunteers from the Ohio Junior Miss Scholarship Program.

The OJM supporters met with Arishina on Wednesday evening before Community Night when the participants performed their opening number for the Mobile community.

Following Thursday’s program, the OJM group met with Yelena’s host parents and her roommate, Anna Thvedt, South Dakota’s Junior Miss from Beresford.

Tonight is the second night of preliminary events. On Saturday, AJM will announce the 10 finalists who will then compete again in each of the three areas. Interview and scholastics scores will be added into each young woman’s overall score. Saturday’s program can be viewed locally via the Internet at www.nbc15online.com.