I suppose every little girl dreams about being Miss America. The glamour, the glitz, the free trips to Disney World – who wouldn’t want all of that, right? I think the answer to that question is: every little girl in America except for JoJo. At this point in her life she could have cared less about wearing a crown, putting on lipstick, or fixing her hair. All indications were that I was raising a bonafide tom-boy. That’s fine, but every girl needs to know how to act in public and finishing school was out of the question since there’s not one anywhere close to me. The second best option landed in my lap one day.
The Miss Mississippi pageant is famous for producing the most Miss Americas and the most top 10 finalists out of all of the other states. It’s super competitive and girls who compete are there for one reason – to take the title to Atlantic City and then bring the big title home. I don’t really know why, but I’m guessing that at some point the organization got strapped for cash or something and needed a new revenue stream. That stream came in the form of little Miss Magnolia Princesses. Now, in addition to the 40 – 50 adult contestants, there would be hundreds of 6 – 12 year olds who appeared alongside the pageant girls each night. Each contestant chose three little girls to accompany them all week. It was a win-win for the pageant: each princess paid an ‘entry’ fee, sold ads on behalf of the pageant, and brought at least a row full of family and friends each night (who purchased tickets) to watch their little sweethearts on stage. It was actually a brilliant strategy. I wish I would have thought of it first.
One day about six months prior to the pageant, one of the contestants that we knew asked JoJo to be one of her princesses. I was so overwhelmed that someone thought about her and wanted to include her. After a few days, though, it dawned on me that this might not be that easy. After reading the long list of requirements I learned that she would have to learn a choreographed dance, walk across stage smiling and waving to the crowd, participate in a parade, learn a song, and be in ‘princess’ classes all day long. Had I jumped the gun on agreeing to this?
As with everything else I’ve ever done when it comes to JoJo, I put on my creative hat to come up with a solution. JoJo can do everything that anybody else can do, it just sometimes takes an extra pair of hands to help. That extra pair of hands came in the form of my niece, Lyn, who was in high school in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. On a whim I called her and asked if she’d spend the summer with us and help us get ready. It was a paid gig for her although she loves JoJo and would have done it for free.
Lyn moved in for the summer and the pageant agreed to let Lyn stay with the girls all day and be by JoJo’s side to help her with the dancing and everything else that she needed to do.
I will never forget the first night of the pageant. It is a memory that I will cherish forever. All of the princesses processed in for their dance number and JoJo was right in the middle. She knew every word, knew every move, and was overwhelming the crowd’s favorite. During the evening gown portion of the pageant she paraded across the stage, smiled and waved and stole everyone’s heart. Again, I had worried for no reason. There’s nothing JoJo can’t conquer.
That was certainly a summer we’ll never forget, especially for Lyn. Lyn realized during that pageant week that watching kids with special needs be successful was what she was called to do. She went to college a few years later and majored in Special Education.
After the week was over, I received emails and notes from people all over the state who saw JoJo in the pageant. Most were parents of children with Down syndrome. I think about that every time I hesitate about pushing the envelope – and then I don’t hesitate anymore.
