[ back ]
RIVERDALE - National Pageant is dream come true for local girl
(by Leslie Scott - Staff Writer - July 23, 2008)
RIVERDALE - One borough family has finally rolled out the red carpet for their 10-year-old.
After years of waiting, Cassidy Tibbetts has been allowed to enter her first pageant.
Cassidy will compete in the National American Miss Pageant for New Jersey on Aug. 16 at the Hilton Hotel in East Brunswick.
Cassidy said she always wanted to do it but her mother thought she was too young.
“When she was younger, my aunt had submitted her pictures to things. So I would always get information on different pageants. She happened to see them and I felt she was old enough to decide if she wanted to do it or not,” said her mother Deborah.
Deborah liked this pageant because it focused on how well the children spoke and not just beauty.
“Thirty percent is the formalwear competition, which is standard with pageants but the another 30 percent is interview. She has to fill out a resume about herself and she has to interview with about five judges and another 30 percent is a personal introduction. She has to stand up in front of everyone and introduce herself,” said Deborah.
The other 10 percent can be achieved by contributing to the pageant’s charity.
There is also a talent competition, which is voluntary to enter. Cassidy’s talent is playing drums, but she will not participate in that part of the event.
She has been practicing for the pageant.
“I practice my turns. For the formal wear, we have to do a circle and you have to stand in a certain way. I practice my posture and pretty feet.”
When she is not practicing Cassidy doesn’t mind getting a little dirty. In addition to playing drums Cassidy also enjoys softball, where she plays the catcher.
Another activity she enjoys is having sleepovers with her friends.
“My biggest hope for me that she gets out of this is it helps her become a better person and it helps her learn public speaking, because it is not easy standing up in front of a lot of people,” said Deborah.
Cassidy went from business to business in the local area to raise the money she needed to enter the contest.
She would go in and read a speech explaining what she was doing.
Not everyone gave her money, her mother said, but Cassidy always said thank you and was polite to everyone she spoke to.
Cassidy gave a special thank you to her largest contributor Advanced Sports Medicine in Riverdale.
“They donated $250, which was really exciting because it meant I could pay off some of the money I had to pay off to register for the pageant,” Cassidy said.
All of the entry fees totaled $440. Other contributors where Riverdale businesses Cartridge World, Cornerstone Chiropractic, Stewart Family Chiropractic, Lucille Brule of Blue Realty and the Bella Casa Pizza Café in Pompton Lakes.
Every state holds this pageant, which is separated into age groups. Cassidy will participate in the Miss New Jersey Pre Teen competition, which is for girls age 7 through 9 as of Jan. 1.
All the winners will go on to compete in the National American Miss Pageant in California.
The winners of the state competition will earn the title, obtain the official state crown, banner, trophy and roses, $1,000, paid airfare and entry fees to the national pageant, a tour through Hollywood, traveling opportunities and a modeling scholarship.
[ back ]
