7-year-old aims for the crown
Santa Clarita Valley native set to compete in Miss Junior Pre-Teen
Beauty queens and California pre-teens will beam their brightest smiles this Saturday as they travel from across the state to compete for the chance to be crowned Miss Junior Pre-Teen California in Anaheim.
Charlotte Chi, a Santa Clarita Valley native entering third grade at Golden Oak Community School, will compete in her first-ever pageant when she takes the stage as a state finalist in the National American Miss Junior Pre-Teen division.
Chi is excited for the opportunity to participate in the largest pageant system in the nation and believes she has a great chance at taking home the title.
“I’m honored to represent Santa Clarita,” the 7-year-old said. “I’m going to try really hard to win that trophy and crown for everybody.”
The opportunity to participate in the pageant occurred unexpectedly, Chi said. “We got this letter in the mail and we went to a hotel,” where they interviewed the young girl about her family and life.
Shortly after, a panel informed Chi that she had been selected as a state finalist for one of the nation’s premier beauty pageants, the National American Miss Pageant System.
“The focus of this organization is to create future leaders and to equip them with real world skills to make their dreams a reality,” the pageant’s website reads. “The program is based on inner beauty, as well as poise and presentation, and offers an ‘All American spirit of fun for family and friends.’”
Chi said she will have to participate in a fashion show and other aspects of the competition that emphasize the importance of self confidence, such as the personal introduction portion, which accounts for 25 percent of her score.
The Miss Pre-Teen Pageant also seeks to encourage participants to learn new skills and harbor positive attitudes about competition, as well as setting and achieving personal goals, the website states.
As an award-winning painter and dancer, Chi feels she embodies these ideals, adding that she prides herself on the fact that she is always striving to better herself and her world with her achievements.
“Charlotte has dedicated community and business support in her pageant endeavors,” Charlotte’s father Charlie Chi said. “Her achievement as a pageant state finalist and her community service work have been recognized by leaders such as Congressman Steve Knight, Santa Clarita Mayor Laurene Weste, (state) Sen. Scott Wilk, and Rep. Dante Acosta.”
When she isn’t dancing or painting natural scenes of the Santa Clarita Valley, Chi can be found in the community donating books to children or performing acts of service at her church.
After the competition, Chi said, “I hope to help others as a physician in the United States Navy,” but before she claims the title of M.D., Chi will see if she can be crowned Miss Junior Pre-Teen California this weekend in Anaheim.