Student uses virtual pageant to combat bullying
EL DORADO, Ark. — Kaitlyn Brazle strives to make a difference in South Arkansas.
The Parkers Chapel High School freshman was set on this path by her aunt who asked Brazle to do this as her dying wish.
“That is what drove me into taking pageants seriously,” Brazle told the El Dorado News-Times. “My goal was always to get to Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen.”
Since then, her goal has been to compete in Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen, which she will do tentatively in July or August as Miss Sweetheart of Arkansas Outstanding Teen 2020, a title she earned in the first virtual pageant for the organization.
Due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the preliminary round where Brazle earned her latest title was held virtually and the Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen competition was pushed back.
“To have the title of a prelim, just to go be on that stage, it feels like I’m taking her with me,” she said. “It almost feels like she’s there with me and in my opinion she is there with me, and so is God. It’s just a really amazing opportunity to be there on stage with those other amazing girls, having the director and my support group.”
Brazle first competed in the Junior Miss Union County Fair pageant and won the title in 2016.
Since then, she has been the Junior Miss Parkers Chapel 2017, Teen Miss Union County and Teen Miss MusicFest 2018, and Miss Diamond National USA Jr. Teen 2019, among other titles.
When she competes for Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen 2020, she will be the first of the Red Group in each event — the competition will begin with an interview, talent showcase, lifestyle and wellness, and evening gown and on-stage interview.
Brazle said she’s always been passionate about pageants and has never thought of quitting, despite her busy schedule.
Although she said preparation for each pageants begins months in advance, with the help of her pageant notebook that includes interview preparation and walking patterns, she’s busy year-round as a student at PCHS who is heavily involved in cheerleading, volunteering and as the 2020-21 senior captain of the Southern Belles Dance Company.
“I actually think cheer … gives you that drive to push to what you want,” Brazle said. “With dance and being captain, it gives you the leadership skills that you need to hold a title like Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen.”
Brazle has volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club of El Dorado, at Mayor Veronica Smith-Creer’s tea parties to stand up and speak out against bullies, the Salvation Army, the Chemo Angels Foundation, the Relay for Life Cancer Foundation, The CALL foster care support organization and the AGAPE House for children in foster care.
She has also worked with the Atlanta-based organization Don’t Be a Bully Foundation, which brings awareness to issues regarding bullying, which fits into Brazle’s platform Commit Fully to Not Bully.
“It’s just another way that I really express what she honored and what I stand for because I really am passionate about no bullying,” she said.
Brazle’s mom Yolanda Gafford said she’s been able to see her daughter flourish from a shy young girl into a confident and connected young woman.
“Ever since her very first fair pageant, she has just soared in her performance on the stage of each pageant she’s done,” she said. “She has grown not only in her ability to do pageants but she has grown with a person as a good heart, and it’s amazing to watch.”
Gafford said she never dreamed of having a pageant girl for a daughter, but Brazle took it upon herself to participate.
Gafford said she sees her daughter learn something new from each pageant and she is able to network, which can sometimes be a little scary.
“The first national pageant she went to, we traveled to Memphis and there were girls all around the world there,” she said. “(Her grandmother and I) really realized that people know you through your social media. There were girls … from everywhere that knew who Kaitlyn was.”
However, Gafford said she’s found that the main focus of pageants isn’t beauty, it’s being able to connect with others and has turned out to be a great way to boost young girls’ self esteem and confidence.
Brazle said young girls who are interested in pageants should start with local pageants, which is a good way to familiarize oneself with being on stage.
She also said the Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen Miss Arkansas Diamond State Princess/Prince Program is a good place to start, too, and a good way to have a road to Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen and Miss Arkansas.