ARLINGTON – Elyssa Acosta can thank pop star Katy Perry for helping her win a crown at the statewide Miss Junior Pre-Teen Seattle Pageant.
Well, not directly, but indirectly.
Elyssa, 8, wanted to compete in the contest, but her mom, Emily, wasn’t sold on the idea. But since they were going to Perry’s concert at the Tacoma Dome anyway, they decided to stop in Seattle to find out about it.
Because of the cost to enter, $620, mom still wasn’t sold on the idea. But Elyssa said she would raise the money.
And she did.
She went to businesses in Arlington and Darrington and raised it all through small donations; the biggest being from the Darrington IGA for $75.
“I was not going to pay for it,” Acosta said. “But she’s not your normal eight-year-old. She’s outgoing. I was shy” at that age.
Another impressive feat, her mom said, is that Elyssa only had three weeks to do it.
Elyssa won the pre-teen division at the contest, which took place at the Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien. There were 30 girls in her classification.
In the contest, Elyssa faced an interview in front of three judges. She also modeled a formal dress they found online and casual wear, which was an outfit her aunt brought back from Mexico.
Acosta said the judges were impressed with Elyssa’s poise, personality and inner confidence.
“That’s one of the reasons we let her do it,” Acosta said, explaining what was “inside” was more important than looks in the competition.
Elyssa has played some recitals on piano and done some ballet, but, “She’s never done anything like this before,” Acosta said.
“Nothing phases her. She has confidence within her,” Acosta added.
The Miss Teen Seattle Pageant program is designed to develop self-confidence, build friendships, and deliver an experience to be remembered by each contestant as well as the friends and family. The winners of each of four age division will receive a three-foot trophy, official tiara, satin banner and an expense-paid trip to the 2015 National Pageant Competition in Orlando, Fla.
