GRAVETTE -- Clara Kate Edwards, of Gravette, will be representing Arkansas in the kindergarten division of the Miss Elementary America national pageant June 20-25 in Little Rock. Clara is the four-year-old daughter of Trey and Jennifer Edwards and will be in kindergarten at Glenn Duffy Elementary School this fall.
Clara won the title of Miss Arkansas Elementary Preschool at the 2021 Miss Arkansas Elementary Pageant held in Little Rock in mid-January. This honor entitles her to compete for the national crown with girls from all over the United States. They will be competing in three-minute interviews, fashion runway (dressy outfit of choice) and floor-length evening gown competitions during the week.
Other activities and events during national pageant week will include an arrival ceremony, PJ party, pageant workshop, Build a Bear party, banquet, a community service event, trips to the Museum of Discovery and a water park and lots of rehearsals. Participants will also take part in the opening number production of the national Miss High School America Pageant and arrival ceremony.
The Miss Elementary America Pageant is a division of the Miss High School America Pageant. The MEAP is for young ladies in grades pre-K to sixth grade. The purpose of the program is to introduce girls who have an interest in community service and possibly someday competing in the Miss High School America National Pageants to the Miss High School America organization.
Over the past few months, Clara has held numerous fundraising events and has been making appearances in the area and throughout the state. She has also completed numerous hours of community service.
In February, she held a #DoGoodWeek in which individuals statewide gave back to their communities through different daily initiatives, and in March she held a Kicks for Kids fundraiser in Gravette. With the help of the community, Clara was able to donate 130 pairs of shoes for students in the Gravette School District, as well as socks and other needed personal clothing items. Also in March, she helped members of the Gravette Bright Futures group when they assembled backpacks with food items to send home with students before spring break.
