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PITTSBURG —
When she received a letter in the mail about the National American Miss Pageant, Cassidy Bayliss, Pittsburg, knew it was something she wanted to do.
“I’ve never done anything like this before and I love picking out pretty dresses,” said Bayliss, 10, daughter of Ginger and John Bayliss.
She sent in an application, and around May 1 was notified that she had been selected as a state finalist in the National American Miss Kansas Pageant, to be held July 15-17 at the Hyatt Regency in Wichita. She will compete in the pre-teen 10-12 age division.
“We were told that only 50 percent of the applicants are accepted,” Mrs. Bayliss said.
On May 22 they attended a training seminar in Overland Park.
“They showed us how to walk, and other things,” Cassidy said.
She will be judged on the basis of introduction, formal wear and an interview. There is no swim suit competition, and girls under the age of 12 are not allowed to wear makeup.
“We can’t wear dark nail polish either,” Bayliss said. “It has to be clear or pastel.”
“Everything is age appropriate,” her mother added.
Emphasis is placed on inner beauty, poise and presentation, along with the importance of developing self-confidence, learning good sportsmanship and setting and achieving personal goals.
There are also optional competition areas including talent, acting and art. Bayliss said she would like to try the acting.
“I could do talent, too,” she said. “I was in a musical at George Nettels Elementary School and people were saying that I’m good at singing.”
Her father will walk Bayliss out on the first night of the competition and she will introduce herself, explaining that she was born in China and brought to the United States by loving adoptive parents.
“We brought Cassidy back in October, 2001, on her first birthday,” Mrs. Bayliss said. “It was quite an exciting trip, just three weeks after 9/11.”
Her daughter also plans to share the fact that she was diagnosed with Tourette’s last spring. It hasn’t slowed her down or lowered her spirits one little bit.
“I’m going to say, ‘I have a twitch, but I’m still beautiful’,” Bayliss said.
Individual contests, such as acting and talent, will be held the second day of the pageant, and the interviews will be held on the third.
The young lady and her mother have been looking at dresses for the pageant.
When she received a letter in the mail about the National American Miss Pageant, Cassidy Bayliss, Pittsburg, knew it was something she wanted to do.
“I’ve never done anything like this before and I love picking out pretty dresses,” said Bayliss, 10, daughter of Ginger and John Bayliss.
She sent in an application, and around May 1 was notified that she had been selected as a state finalist in the National American Miss Kansas Pageant, to be held July 15-17 at the Hyatt Regency in Wichita. She will compete in the pre-teen 10-12 age division.
“We were told that only 50 percent of the applicants are accepted,” Mrs. Bayliss said.
On May 22 they attended a training seminar in Overland Park.
“They showed us how to walk, and other things,” Cassidy said.
She will be judged on the basis of introduction, formal wear and an interview. There is no swim suit competition, and girls under the age of 12 are not allowed to wear makeup.
“We can’t wear dark nail polish either,” Bayliss said. “It has to be clear or pastel.”
“Everything is age appropriate,” her mother added.
Emphasis is placed on inner beauty, poise and presentation, along with the importance of developing self-confidence, learning good sportsmanship and setting and achieving personal goals.
There are also optional competition areas including talent, acting and art. Bayliss said she would like to try the acting.
“I could do talent, too,” she said. “I was in a musical at George Nettels Elementary School and people were saying that I’m good at singing.”
Her father will walk Bayliss out on the first night of the competition and she will introduce herself, explaining that she was born in China and brought to the United States by loving adoptive parents.
“We brought Cassidy back in October, 2001, on her first birthday,” Mrs. Bayliss said. “It was quite an exciting trip, just three weeks after 9/11.”
Her daughter also plans to share the fact that she was diagnosed with Tourette’s last spring. It hasn’t slowed her down or lowered her spirits one little bit.
“I’m going to say, ‘I have a twitch, but I’m still beautiful’,” Bayliss said.
Individual contests, such as acting and talent, will be held the second day of the pageant, and the interviews will be held on the third.
The young lady and her mother have been looking at dresses for the pageant.
“There’s a pink one, a lime green one and a blue one,” Bayliss said. “They have ruffles and studs like diamonds.”
She’s already something of a fashionista, and said that her mother often consults her about what to wear.
“And if she doesn’t like what I’m wearing, she doesn’t hesitate to say so,” Mrs. Bayliss said.
To attend the event, Bayliss needed to raise $500, and is still working on that.
“A lot of people were very generous,” she said. “A lot of our family and friends who own businesses have donated, but it made me a little nervous asking them.”
The winner of the state pageant will receive a $1,000 cash award, an official crown and banner, a bouquet of roses and air transportation to compete in the National Pageant in California, as will as a complimentary tour of Hollywood and two VIP tickets to Disneyland. The National Pageants are dedicated to celebrating America’s future leaders and equipping them with lifelong skills. Each year the pageant nationally awards $1.5 million in cash, scholarships and other prizes.
Bayliss takes singing and piano lessons and enjoys cheerleading, swimming, Girl Scouts and hanging out with her friends. She has been taking a Crawford County Extension summer cooking class for youngsters and loves to cook.
“My mother and grandma have taught me,” she said.
Bayliss said that a lot of family members plan to attend the pageant and cheer her on.
“I’m really excited about this,” she said. “A lot of my friends are excited and they’re supporting me, too.”
