10ae1dec6b2ebd0024185689eeeb7b66.jpg

EAST WINDSOR: Pursuing pageant dreams

Local girls heading to national competition

By Amy Batista, Special Writer
EAST WINDSOR — Dreams do come true for little girls and young ladies in the tri-state area thanks to the Miss Next Level Youth Pageant & Mentoring Program (NLYPageant).
"It’s an honor to represent our state," said Faith Skinner, mother of Zoe Skinner, 6. "Win or lose, we know we’ll all have a lot of fun."
Skyy Hills, 11, and Zoe, both of East Windsor, are moving onto the next round and participating in the National Miss American Coed Pageant which will be held at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista in Lake Buena Vista, Florida during Thanksgiving week.
"Skyy loves this (pageant) circuit because she loves to meet new girls and work on her interview skills," said mom Dawn Schneider.
At the last competition, in White Plains, New York, she competed against approximately 14 girls in her age group, while Zoe competed against 11 contestants.
"Skyy was shocked, and that is an understatement, then she realized she was going to Disney with hundreds of other girls and she got so excited and emotional," Ms. Schneider said.
She has been involved in the Miss Next Level Youth Pageant & Mentoring Program since 2010 and competed in her first pageant at the age of seven.
She got involved after seeing a flyer about the program, Ms. Schneider said.
For Skyy, her favorite part of competing is making new friends and helping other girls gain confidence in themselves.
Skyy has been crowned Miss American Coed Mid-Atlantic States and Zoe was crowned New Jersey American Princess 2014.
"The first year that I did it, I was first runner up," said Zoe. "So I wanted to do it again, and see if I would win. The best part of doing pageants is that you get to meet new girls and go to fun places."
There are parties and it also helps you with speaking to people, too, she said.
She has been competing since the age of five after her being invited onto the stage and was crowned an "Honorary Princess."
"When we parents heard about the program, we thought it would be a good way to draw out our shy, older daughter," Ms. Skinner said. "The public speaking, poise and mentoring that was provided really attracted us to something we previously thought we’d never become involved in. After (sister) Dharma’s first pageant experience, Zoe and several other little girls, who were too small to compete in the pageant, were invited to come on the stage and be crowned ‘Honorary Princesses.’"
Her mom said that, at that moment, she knew Zoe wanted to be on that stage again.
"The following year, Zoe was entered into first grade at age five, so she became eligible to compete a year early," she said. "At age five, she came in first runner-up, and she won the Interview Award. This year she won the Fun and Fearless Award, the Photogenic Award, and the Princess Title."
For Zoe, her favorite part of competing is meeting new girls and making new friends.
"The ladies who enter the NLYPageant are given just about everything they need to participate in a pageant and, most often, for free," said Evelyn McCleod founder and executive director of Miss Next Level Youth Pageant.
This is not the same for other for profit pageants, where fees are 100 percent higher, and the gowns and workshops are not provided, she said.
"We remove that barrier," she said. "We are here to provide a great and mentoring experience for our contestants."
Ms. McCleod also holds several titles including Former Mrs. New Jersey America 2013, Mrs. Exquisite International Classic 2012, America’s Mrs. 2010 and Mrs. New Jersey United States 2008.
"The NLYPageant was developed to show those less fortunate that they too may have what their courage, dreams and determination can foster," she said.
The Miss Next Level Youth Pageant and Mentoring Program is open to young ladies from first grade to 12th grade who meet the program strict requirements.
There are three divisions – Princess, Pre-Teen and Teen.
"The pageant is geared toward those who cannot afford the extreme costs of competing in pageants and delegates are automatic members of the mentoring aspect of the organization and spend the year participating in many community service events such as walks for Susan G. Koman, Leukemia Lymphoma Society, American Cancer Society, to name a few," she said. "They are also afforded the opportunity to participate in career building workshops, tutoring programs as well as other fun events such as fashion shows, many parades and horseback riding."
All participants attended eight workshops in which three of them are run by Krisann Evelyn of LaVouge Pageant Coaching by Krisann who also donated many gowns for the delegates.
Each delegate received a pageant survival kit and personal care products.
She said that the interview is one of the "most important aspects" of the Miss Next Level Youth Pageant.
"It is a life skill," she said. "The ladies are also making friendships which could last a lifetime."
She said that in addition to receiving free pageant coaching, delegates also receive an evening gown and prizes totaling almost $4,000.
"The winners of the pageant receive almost $10,000 in prizes which include free entry into some of the top pageants for young ladies such as the National American Miss Pageant (NAM) and the New Jersey American Coed Pageants," she said.
Both girls have a gofundme.com account set up to help raise funding towards competing in nationals.
Skyy can be sponsored at www.gofundme.com/d67j0w, and Zoe can be sponsored at www.gofundme.com/dyv11o.
"The trip will cost about $2,500 which includes the entry fee of $1,200 and then hotel, travel expenses, dress and opening number dress," Ms. Schneider said, adding it is a "once in a lifetime event for her."
Zoe is "excited" to be moving onto nationals and going to Disney with her "sister queens."
"There will be girls from all over the country," Ms. Skinner said. "I thought it would just be 51 queens competing, but it will be more like 150 to 200 in her age division because they don’t just crown state queens. Overall, there will probably be 1,000 girls from age three and up to young adults competing at Disney."
She said that at the state level, Zoe won $500 dollars, plus two tickets to Disney World, and $300 towards her travel expenses.
"However, competing on the national level is expensive, and Zoe is looking for sponsors to help her raise the $1,200 in sponsorship fees and it is tax deductible," she said.
She said that while it is "expensive," they "are enjoying the ride."
"I wasn’t sure if Zoe would be able to represent the state, but everyone around us who knew anything about pageantry was sure she was going to be Miss NJ," she said. "Now, they say the odds are good that she can represent the nation. We’ll see. Once again, the competition will be stiff. There will be kids who have done nationals for two to three years already."
Ms. McCleod recalled how happy everyone was when Zoe won the state title last month.
"Zoe has a special spark and will do extremely well at nationals," she said.
She also said she believes Skyy can do "extremely well."
"Skyy is very sweet and personable young lady who will wow the judges," she said. "I will be delighted, but not surprised, if they (both) win at nationals."
Ms. McCleod describes it as a "heartwarming experience."
"Many parents have commented how their daughters’ confidence and speaking abilities have improved as a result," she said.
Ms. Schneider agrees.
"Skyy loves working with Next Level Youth because they work with many organizations such as Susan G. Koman, working with other great organizations such as you derives, and anti-bullying which she loves," she said.
"I want girls to know that pageants are not like "Toddlers and Tiaras," but help build confidence and skills that she can use later like public speaking, interview and how to hold herself with confidence," said Skyy.
Her mom said how she is "so excited it was based on promoting great values and building the girls from inside out."
"Skyy learned public speaking, how to carry herself with confidence and the ability to interview," she said. "In the next year, I (saw that) Skyy no longer walked with her head down. It was amazing."
It is more than wearing a crown for the girls. They provide "countless hours" of community service.
"Wearing a crown would simply be for vanity if it wasn’t for all of the community service work these scholarship pageant girls do," Ms Skinner said. "Many put in countless hours, and they are recognized for their work both on the pageant stage, as well as in their communities, and by their local and federal governments."