Miss Abilities pageant helps all girls shine

The Winchester Star

WINCHESTER — There are thousands of beauty pageants across the country and around the world that focus on perfection.

A Frederick County mother of three daughters is focused on girls who want opportunities to shine on stage, but who have bodies and brains that put such dreams out of reach. So, she created a pageant for them.

Jessi Edwards’ 10-year-old daughter Jayden has dreamed for years of being crowned Miss America. But the cheerful Redbud Run Elementary School student is realistic about the fact her autism will likely prevent her from realizing that particular dream.

Like other parents, Jayden’s mother wants to see her daughters pursue their dreams. She wants all children, no matter their disabilities, to feel good about their bodies and feel great about their accomplishments.

In 2016, Jessi Edwards established Miss Abilities LLC, a nonprofit pageant organization for girls and women with disabilities living in Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

Miss Abilities LLC events are for females ages 7 and up who meet the definition under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995: “A person has a disability for the purpose of this Act if he/she has a mental or physical impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his/her ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.”

The first Miss Abilities pageant was held last year. The second one is set for 3 p.m.March 18 at Sherando High School.

“There are pageants across the country for Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, wheelchairs or special needs. Most of them are for women,” Edwards said. “They are also expensive — entry fees, airfare, hotels, gowns. Before I started Miss Abilities, the nearest pageant was in upstate New York.

“I wanted to start a local and affordable pageant,” Edwards continued. “The entry fee is $20. Girls can wear gowns, church dresses or what they wear to go out in the evening.”

As a nonprofit, Miss Abilities LLC relies on financial donations as well as gifts in-kind and volunteers.

The most important thing about the Miss Abilities event, Edwards said, is giving girls the opportunity to dress up, go on stage and get out of their comfort zones. They benefit from challenging themselves as well as spending a day with other people who are like them.

Each pageant requires almost 100 volunteers, who assist the contestants throughout the day. Volunteers help with clothes, hair, makeup and backstage jitters.

“I know a lot of people who know a lot of people,” Edwards joked.

Pageant judges also spend the day watching and interacting with the contestants because consideration is given to how each girl progresses prior to their moment on stage.

“The judges interview the girls backstage, and one of those questions will be asked onstage. That way, the girls are prepared,” said Edwards. “The judges focus on who these girls are and what’s in their hearts.”

Jayden said Miss Abilities “is the best pageant ever.” She has made new friends through the pageant, and she is beyond thrilled that the current Miss Virginia, Michaela Sigmon, is one of the judges this year.

“A lot of Jayden’s growth is because of her service dog, Clara, but being on stage has helped Jayden feel more confident,” said Edwards. Clara joined the Edwards family last year. The golden retriever is trained to detect imminent seizures and to disrupt harmful behavior.

Miss Abilities girls and volunteers also participate in other events such as the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Grand Feature Parade and parades in the communities where other Miss Abilities contestants live. They all also volunteer in the community for Habitat for Humanity, Relay for Life and the Kiwanis Pancake Day.

“It’s good for the girls to be around girls like them, and it’s good for parents to network, too,” Edwards said. “Volunteering for other organizations teaches great lessons as well. We volunteer. That’s what we do.”

Jayden has dreams beyond pageants. She loves to bake, and she loves to sing. Miss Abilities has helped give her the confidence to dream big.

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For more information about the Miss Abilities Pageant, visit missabilities.org.

— Contact Cathy Kuehner at ckuehner@winchesterstar.com