Amber Victoria Singer/KJZZ

The winning selfie at the 2023 Arizona State Fair.

Even if you’ve never been to the Arizona State Fair, you’re probably familiar with the usual competitions: The best quilt, the yummiest pie, the biggest pumpkin. But did you know that there’s actually a category for best selfie? It’s been around for a few years, according to director of entries Karen Searle.

One of this year’s selfie entries features Flagstaff’s blue sky and orange foliage. Another was taken on a roller coaster by a woman with wide eyes and a big, open mouthed smile. She looks excited, if not a little nervous about dropping her phone. 

“The judges are looking for everything from composition, in other words how was it framed and set up? ... But really it’s about the content. Is it fun, is it expressive, is it colorful?” Searle said.

The winning selfie is neither expressive nor colorful, although it is compelling. The black and white self portrait was taken by Christie Peters, a young woman wearing a white hoodie that obscures part of her face. She’s staring straight at her phone camera, with one carefully manicured eyebrow raised ever so slightly.

You can see it for yourself on the exhibition floor through Oct. 29.

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