Cheyenne Jennings, a 10-year-old student at Tryon Elementary School, competed in the Miss Pre Teen NC pageant earlier this month in Durham, N.C.
Jennings competed against 73 girls from across North Carolina. Miss Pre Teen N.C. is a division of Miss Pre Teen America. The organization selects girls for the pageant based on academics, as well as school recommendations.
The program has a strong focus on academics, but also on community involvement, the arts and music. Each child has her records reviewed, is interviewed, asked to participate in dance routines and is given a knowledge test.
Jennings was the only participant from Polk County. She danced in the talent division, spoke on stage, went through an interview process and took a test. As she went into the final review, letters of recommendation were read from her teacher at Tryon Elementary, dance teacher Missy Fincher at Dance Dynamics and her Girl Scout leader. Judges then called out on stage a list of Cheyenne’s academic accomplishments, awards she has won and what she wants to be when she grows up – an author and vet.
Jennings was selected as a finalist and received a trophy as well as a certificate of academic achievement.
– article submitted by Melanie Jennings