Mom sees pageants as confidence booster
Came across this article in the Yuma Sun in Arizona. I LOVE seeing NAM girls in the news...and goes to show you dont have to win a crown or banner to be in the spotlight!!!!!
August 24, 2010
JOHN VAUGHN - BAJO EL SOL EDITOR
Maria Zepeda didn't think much of her young daughter's answer when a panel of judges asked the young beauty pageant contestant what she wanted to do with her life.
Annalyce Romero said she wanted to be a cheerleader, just so she could cheer on Justin Bieber, the 16-year-old singer who's all the rage these days with teens and pre-teens.
Zepeda figures the answer left the judges less than impressed, and she would have answered the question differently had she been in Annalyce's shoes. But she knows the pageant wasn't about parents who live for the accolades and honors their children win, but for the children themselves.
So if Annalyce, the 4-year-old beauty contestant, said she wanted to grow up to be the No. 1 fan of Justin Bieber, singer and heartthrob, then Zepeda was happy to let Annalyce be Annalyce. Besides it was just one of those vague childhood dreams that are forgotten as quickly as they are conceived, her mother figures.
In the end, Annalyce didn't win the title in her division, although she did come away with a trophy as a second runner-up in the category of recruiting future contestants.
And Annalyce, one of the youngest competitors in the 4- to 6-year-old division of the National American Miss Arizona Pageant in Scottsdale in July, gained a measure of poise and self-confidence — which, for her mother, was just as important as winning.
“For her, she won because she got her trophy,” said Zepeda, who accompanied her husband, Javier Romero, in the audience as their daughter competed on stage. “I think I got really emotional. I wanted to cry.”
As one of the youngest contestants, Annalyce was also the least experienced ones. Never before had she participated in a contest, Zepeda said.
At the beginning of the event, Annalyce seemed nervous, Zepeda said, but little by little, she regained her composure, thanks to some works of comfort and encouragement other participants gave her.
“She gained a lot of confidence, from the first day to the last day. I think that the best thing that happened was that her confidence improved.”
Annalyce and her parents had spent several months making pre-pageant preparations, such as choosing the dresses she would wear and rehearsing her answers to the questions they thought the judges might be asking.
Zepeda hopes her daughter continues participating in pageants “for the self-confidence while she grows up, to be able to conduct herself and not be afraid.”
But, she says, she and her husband will leave that decision to Annalyce.
August 24, 2010
JOHN VAUGHN - BAJO EL SOL EDITOR
Maria Zepeda didn't think much of her young daughter's answer when a panel of judges asked the young beauty pageant contestant what she wanted to do with her life.Annalyce Romero said she wanted to be a cheerleader, just so she could cheer on Justin Bieber, the 16-year-old singer who's all the rage these days with teens and pre-teens.
Zepeda figures the answer left the judges less than impressed, and she would have answered the question differently had she been in Annalyce's shoes. But she knows the pageant wasn't about parents who live for the accolades and honors their children win, but for the children themselves.
So if Annalyce, the 4-year-old beauty contestant, said she wanted to grow up to be the No. 1 fan of Justin Bieber, singer and heartthrob, then Zepeda was happy to let Annalyce be Annalyce. Besides it was just one of those vague childhood dreams that are forgotten as quickly as they are conceived, her mother figures.
In the end, Annalyce didn't win the title in her division, although she did come away with a trophy as a second runner-up in the category of recruiting future contestants.
And Annalyce, one of the youngest competitors in the 4- to 6-year-old division of the National American Miss Arizona Pageant in Scottsdale in July, gained a measure of poise and self-confidence — which, for her mother, was just as important as winning.
“For her, she won because she got her trophy,” said Zepeda, who accompanied her husband, Javier Romero, in the audience as their daughter competed on stage. “I think I got really emotional. I wanted to cry.”
As one of the youngest contestants, Annalyce was also the least experienced ones. Never before had she participated in a contest, Zepeda said.
At the beginning of the event, Annalyce seemed nervous, Zepeda said, but little by little, she regained her composure, thanks to some works of comfort and encouragement other participants gave her.
“She gained a lot of confidence, from the first day to the last day. I think that the best thing that happened was that her confidence improved.”
Annalyce and her parents had spent several months making pre-pageant preparations, such as choosing the dresses she would wear and rehearsing her answers to the questions they thought the judges might be asking.
Zepeda hopes her daughter continues participating in pageants “for the self-confidence while she grows up, to be able to conduct herself and not be afraid.”
But, she says, she and her husband will leave that decision to Annalyce.