Many little girl’s dream of wearing a beautiful, sparkling crown and sash along with a lace bouffant princess gown to match. That dream came true for my “little” princess this past week during Miss Ohio week.
My 11-year-old, and first born daughter, Teaira, participated in the Miss Ohio Princess Camp, a sister program to the Miss Ohio Outstanding Teen program (MOOT) and the Miss Ohio Scholarship program. The princesses are ages 5 to 12, the teens start at age 13 and 18 to 24-year-old women can participate in the miss program. The competition starts at the teen level, so there was no stress for the princesses – or their mothers.
For all participants in the program including the directors, moms, chaperones, technical crew, dancers, and stage crew and so on, the week was filled with rehearsals during the day and shows during the night. It was really a treat to be able to attend the historic Renaissance Theatre every single day and night for six days in a row. No matter the show, there’s just something about the electrifying space and atmosphere of the theatre.
The week began with the Miss Ohio parade, which was fun, but I still wasn’t quite sure of what to expect with the Princess Camp since this was our first time participating. Although Drena McCurdy, executive director of the princesses and teens, kept parents updated via email with schedules and everything we needed to know, you just really never know how something is going to go until you get there. And there is a preconceived notion that pageant girls and their mothers can be a bit, dramatic, shall we say?
When we showed up on Monday for practice, our daughters introduced themselves to each other and were soon hanging out like old friends. By the weeks’ end, friendships were made, pictures were taken and phone numbers were exchanged – and that’s with the girls and us mothers.
The whole experience for me as a mother was quite pleasurable and I know it was for Teaira as well. The girls had to learn three dances as well as introduce themselves at the microphone on stage. Although it was no big deal for “T” to speak at the microphone now, there is always a memory I have from when she was five-years-old and in the Miss Snowflake pageant. Her on-stage question was, ‘What’s your favorite TV show?’ That sounds like an easy enough question for a five-year-old, right?
No, not for my precocious five-year-old. Her answer was, ‘Bratz.’ She then went on to explain that the reason she liked the ‘Bratz’ television show was because she was a brat! The audience roared with laughter and of course, I was mortified. Not only was that the wrong answer to the question, it was a total lie!
I never let her watch the show, but apparently she picked it up from somewhere. So, after that fiasco I decided that she probably needed a break from pageants.
So, five years later, it was to my surprise when she asked me about possibly participating in the Miss Snowflake pageant again. And of course being the good mother I am, I quickly reminded her of the “brat incident,” before saying yes that she could participate. This past January, Miss T captured the crown and title of Junior Miss Snowflake, which is a sister pageant to Miss Mansfield.
Anyone who knows my Saint Peter’s sixth grader knows that she doesn’t meet a stranger and is a very sweet girl – especially when her three little sisters aren’t around. Just as she was perfect at the Snowflake pageant, she performed and exceeded my expectations in the Princess Camp.
All 17 princesses were outstanding in their performing skills and in their demeanor. These girls were not bratty kids but exemplified all the characteristics you think a little princess should be.
Aside from winning major scholarship money for college, pageants teach a plethora of social skills to young girls and women that cannot be unmatched in any other arena of life.
Kudos to the entire Miss Ohio and Miss America organizations and all the local, state and national affiliates, for providing girls and women with positive life experiences that they will be able to truly use to help – in their own unique, individual ways – make the world a better place.
