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Scott families participate in Illinois Miss Amazing Pageant

  • Published
  • By Airman Megan Friedl
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Young women wowed the crowd during their chance of becoming a princess, April 21, in the Miss Amazing Pageant at Edwardsville High School in Edwardsville, Ill.

The Illinois Pageant for ladies with disabilities ages five to 35, is part of a national program to help build self-esteem. Local boys and men with disabilities served as the escorts.

Some participants were the daughters and sons of Team Scott Airmen.

Heather McKenney, a Miss Amazing contestant said, "I felt like a princess."

Brenda Reed, Exceptional Family Member Program family support specialist, has been working with approximately 20 other people on the committee for more than six months to make this pageant possible.

"We've gone full force, and it's just turned into this incredible thing that we're going to see all this magic," said Reed.

What started out as a community service project in 2007, is celebrating its sixth year of Miss Amazing. Local volunteers also held a dress drive for the contestants and received more than 300.

Fifty contestants enjoyed a potluck dinner where the contestants picked out their favorite evening gown to wear at the pageant and met their "Buddy." Buddies are pageant volunteers who help the contestant feel more comfortable and help them on and off the stage.

After the contestants finished dancing to the opening number, a family video was shown which spoke about the discrimination the family experienced from having special needs daughters.

Reed said, "It was very moving what this family had to experience and how they turned a very negative thing into something positive."

The talent portion of the night included 20 acts of various talents, including singing, clarinet playing, hula hooping, gymnastics, dancing, cheer routines and a martial arts demonstration.

Each division crowned a queen and runner up. In September, the six queens will compete at nationals in Nebraska. By the end of this year, 35 states will host a Miss Amazing pageant.

"This is definitely something we hope to continue to do every year," said Reed.