Niagara High School students, along with city and town of Niagara voters, will choose from among five students recently selected by their high school peers to be the 2026 finalists.

Originated and sponsored by the Niagara Lions Club since 1968, the new Miss Niagara will have her coronation at the Niagara Lions Community Picnic on June 27, when she will be presented with a crown and sash from the 2025 Miss Niagara, Elesia Sweig.

Candidates for this year include Saylor Anderson, Lexi Johnston, Peyton Neuens-Allred, Grace Payette and India Varda. All are juniors at Niagara High School.

— Saylor Blue Anderson, 17, is the daughter of Ambre Anderson and Scott Anderson. She has one brother, Reed Anderson, who is a seventh-grade student at Niagara.

Lexi Johnston

Anderson’s favorite classes are English and Spanish. She is very active both in and out of school. She participates in dance and track and also teaches at a local dance studio, where she enjoys working with younger students and sharing her passion for dance. In addition, she is involved in forensics, student council and CCD and served as sophomore class treasurer. Anderson also has achieved High Honors during her high school career.

Anderson credits her mom as her role model. She shares that her mom always puts others before herself and is always ready and willing to help people.

Beyond school, Anderson enjoys giving back to her community. She has volunteered at St. Anthony’s fish fries and chicken dinners, as well as baseball and basketball concession stands. She is also a member of St. Anthony’s Church. During the school year, she works at Ace Hardware.

In her free time, Anderson enjoys hanging out with friends and doing nails. After graduation, she plans to attend college to pursue a degree in sonography/ultrasound.

— Lexi Elizabeth Johnston, 17, is the daughter of Joe and Shannon Johnston. She is the younger sister of Kiley Johnston, a 2023 Niagara graduate.

Peyton Neuens-Allred

Johnston’s favorite class is Spanish 3. She stays very involved in school life and participates in basketball, softball and volleyball, along with theater, forensics, club volleyball, student council and pep band. Over the years, she has earned numerous athletic honors, including basketball letters (first year minor; first and second year major), volleyball letters (first and second year minor; first year major) and softball letters (first and second year major). She achieved Highest Honors during the first semester of the 2025-2026 school year and received the Academic All-State Award her junior year.

Johnston has been active in forensics for three years and has served her class as freshman vice president and junior year treasurer. In addition, she is currently a participant in the Rising Phoenix Program offered through University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Johnston credits her parents as her role models, sharing they consistently show her what it means to be a good person. She aspires to follow their example and appreciates the constant support and guidance they provide.

Beyond school, Johnston is dedicated to serving her community. She has volunteered at the Knights of Columbus steak and brat fry, the Lions Club Summer Picnic and Duck Race, Salvation Army bell ringing, bowling tournaments, The NED Show’s yo-yo sale, youth volleyball camps, and theater productions. She is currently employed at Ace Hardware.

In her free time, Johnston enjoys reading, listening to music, and racing with her dad. After graduation, she plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and major in early elementary education.

Grace Payette

— Peyton Elizabeth Neuens-Allred, 16, is the daughter of Ryan Allred and Maryellen Allred and Brenda Wenzel and Wayne Wenzel. She has three siblings, Grant, Gunnar and Gemma, and a stepsister, Courtney.

Neuens-Allred’s favorite classes are health occupations and English. She is very active both in and out of school. She participates in volleyball, basketball, golf, club volleyball, forensics, Student Council and CCD.

Throughout high school, Neuens-Allred has earned numerous honors. She received the Basketball Most Improved Player award her freshman year and has earned varsity letters in basketball (grades 9-11), volleyball (grades 9-11), and softball (grades 9-10). She served as varsity volleyball team captain and has earned All-Conference recognition in the M&O Conference, Varsity Volleyball Honorable Mention, and WVCA Academic All-State honors her sophomore and junior years. She is also a forensics bronze medalist and has served as class representative and class secretary during her freshman, sophomore, and junior years.

Neuens-Allred credits her stepmom, Maryellen Allred, as her mentor. She describes her as a parent, teacher, coach and friend who is always there to offer advice and guidance. Having known her most of her life, she shares that she has always looked up to her.

Beyond school, Neuens-Allred enjoys serving her community. She has volunteered at volleyball youth camps, softball pancake breakfasts, bell ringing, brat fries, CCD Christmas pageants, pasty sales, fish fries, volleyball Great 8 Games, and mud runs. She is also a member of St. Anthony’s Parish.

India Varda

In her free time, Neuens-Allred enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, hunting and participating in sports. After graduation, she plans to attend college and pursue a career in the medical field, possibly through Northern Michigan University’s bachelor of science in nursing program.

— Grace Elizabeth Payette, 16, is the daughter of Brock and Emily Payette. She has one brother, Jacob Payette, who is a seventh-grade student at Niagara.

Payette’s favorite classes are English and math. She is very active both in and out of school. She participates in volleyball, softball and basketball and has also performed in the high school pep band.

Throughout high school, Payette has earned numerous honors. She received a bronze medal at the state level in forensics and was named Most Improved Player in varsity softball. In volleyball, she earned First Team All-Conference and was recognized as Defensive Player of the Year. She has maintained High Honors throughout her high school career and attended the Spanish class trip to Costa Rica.

Payette has earned three-year major letters in both volleyball and softball, a minor and major letter in basketball, and has been named to the WVCA Academic All-State Team for two years.

Payette credits her dad as her mentor and role model. She shares that he is a hard worker who can fix nearly anything. He always offers a hand when people need help and is always there for her. She describes him as her biggest supporter and says he never misses her games or important events.

Beyond school, Payette enjoys serving her community. She has volunteered at volleyball youth camps, Auntie M’s annual Christmas pageant, the Knights of Columbus steak fry, Salvation Army pancake breakfasts, brat fries, pasty sales, fish fries and Little League events.

Payette works at Edelweiss Coffee in Iron Mountain. In her free time, she enjoys journaling, spending time at the lake, and being outdoors. After graduation, she plans to attend college to pursue a degree in engineering or criminal psychology.

— India Marie Varda, 17, is the daughter of Lance and Dana Lincoln and Karen and Joe Smith. She comes from a large and supportive family, with siblings Danika, Dawson, Nick, Zack, Lauren, McKinley and Owen.

Varda’s favorite class is welding. She is very active both in and out of school. During the summer, she is a member of the Badwater Ski-Ters, a state-championship water-skiing team. She cheers for Niagara and competes with Purple Power, a competitive cheer team. She also plays softball and participates in the school play.

Varda has earned the Badger Spirit Award for cheerleading during both her sophomore and junior years. She has maintained Honor Roll status throughout high school and served as class president during her sophomore year.

Varda shares that she is fortunate to have many positive influences in her life, including her family, friends, co-workers and teachers. One person who has made a significant impact on her is her welding teacher, Jeff Swanson. She admires his dedication to helping students become the best versions of themselves and appreciates that he works tirelessly to support others and genuinely wants everyone to succeed.

Beyond school, Varda enjoys giving back to her community. She has volunteered at school concession stands and assisted with the Run Iron Mountain event. During the school year, she works at the Country Bar, and in the summer, she babysits.

In her free time, Varda loves spending time outdoors, especially during the summer, when she enjoys camping, riding four-wheelers and dirt bikes, hunting, and spending time at the lake swimming, tubing, skiing, and fishing. In the winter, she enjoys sledding and playing card games with friends and family.

After graduation, Varda plans to attend welding school and pursue a career working on the pipeline. In the future, she hopes to move to Wyoming, where she plans to build a career and start a family.