By Stephen Smoot
Much of West Virginia is pageant crazy. Some of the most remote communities in the state put on innumerable numbers of such shows, with all well attended and enjoying large numbers of participants.
Some rate beauty, others personality and skill. Still others look deeper at evaluating the differences between contestants of all ages.
Only one pageant, however, is “Amazing!”
According to the organization that runs the “Miss Amazing Pageant,” the event has a special mission and vision. The national non profit with a very active operation in West Virginia “draws inspiration from pageantry to teach young women and girls with disabilities important self-advocacy skills.”
Through “thirty day-long state events throughout the country” the Miss Amazing Pageant works to “nurture sisterhood, increase visibility, and to open up pathways of leadership for all of the participants.”
One of those incredible pathways to leadership was opened up to Carrie Davis last year. As Rosalyn Queen wrote in her popular “Grapevine” column, Davis competed in the pageant based on a lengthy track record of service to her community.
“She attended technical school at MHS where she learned skills that shaped her life,” wrote Queen, who then added “in school, she participated in the Special Olympics where she ran track. She was also a cheerleader.” Davis also has a husband of five years named Lyle.
Queen shared that she had met Davis while both volunteered with the Progressive Women’s Association, for multiple programs of the Clarksburg Baptist Church, and also for several years with the Miss Amazing pageant.
A life of service and hard work earned Davis the National Mentor Queen Award earlier this summer at the nationwide pageant in Chicago.
Davis spoke to WBOY during the most recent pageant this fall. She told WBOY “There was some tough competition but somehow the judges seen how truly amazing West Virginia is. And this is not our first national crown. Three years ago we had Reagan, our teen, win. So West Virginia had three national crown winners now.” That includes Abby Butler, last year’s National Miss Amazing Pre-Teen.
Nearly 30 years ago, a 13-year old girl from Omaha “with a big dream” shared her vision. Now, as the Pageant states, its events form “spaces where girls and women with disabilities can define who they are and what they love – on their own terms.
A threefold approach establishes a vision where participants can experience personal development, friendship and community, and help to shift perceptions that stigmatize disabilities and the people who live with them. They may employ skills learned and also enjoy support and development through the AMPLIFY and ADVOCATE programs.
AMPLIFY, takes girls from the age of five and older and participate in a program that teaches communication skills in a warm and supportive environment. Those who show significant development and potential can earn selection to the ADVOCATE program. They set personal advocacy plans that lead to developing networks and collaborations toward achieving the goal.
Said Lacey Rae, West Virginia State Director two years ago, “It definitely takes a lot of courage to get up on the big stage and speak or perform.” Despite the natural butterflies that anyone might feel performing in front of others, Rae says “the participants are so excited leading up to the event.”
Contestants get to dress up in fashionable clothes and feel beautiful as their selected “right hand man” escorts them onto the stage. Rae explained in 2023 “there is so much love in the room.”
Judges also must adhere to the stringent standards of the pageant. They must, as Rae said “check their biases at the door, to consider each individual’s unique set of strengths and skills, and to evaluate the extent to which she is taking the opportunity to advocate for herself in each skill area.”
Contestants receive a T shirt, a trophy, and a crown for their hard work and effort.
She added at the time that one of the largest benefits comes for the families of participants, who get to join an extended community of support in a world that does not always understand or have empathy.
Rae also noted that the girls develop confidence and self-advocacy skills within a warm and supportive environment.” In a world always trying to tell them what they can’t do, Miss Amazing focuses on teaching them that they can.”
