A young Daphne resident is headed to California this Thanksgiving after qualifying for one of the country’s largest youth pageant programs. Kaylee Ramos, the daughter of Shawn Ramos and Nikki Riley of Daphne, has earned a spot at the National Pageant for National American Miss following a strong showing in the Jr. Pre-teen division at this year’s state competition.
Ramos placed 1st runner-up in the Top Model category and 4th runner-up in Talent at the National American Miss State of Alabama pageant, held last July. Those results punched her ticket to the national event, where she will represent Alabama among contestants from across the country.
The national pageant will be held during Thanksgiving week at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, where competitors will vie for a share of more than $500,000 in combined cash and prizes. National American Miss bills itself as a program built around age-appropriate, family-oriented competition for girls ages four to eighteen, divided into five age groups, with pageants held in every state.
According to the organization, the program emphasizes inner beauty alongside poise and presentation, with judging built around what it calls an “All American Spirit” of fun for contestants and their families. Organizers say the goal is to help participants build self-confidence, develop new skills and learn to set and pursue personal goals, while also recognizing the individual accomplishments each contestant brings to the stage.
Beyond her state pageant results, Ramos has picked up several other honors this year, including a State Finalist finish and the Spirit Award at National American Miss, along with a Beautiful Portfolio Award. She’s also active outside the pageant world — performing with Center Stage Performance Children’s Theater in Fairhope, making the honor roll at Daphne Elementary School, and receiving a Kiwanis Leadership Award. Her activities have also included Cameo Model Management modeling camps, the Claire Sinnett Acting Camp and an appearance on Bus Stop Forecast. Outside of competition, Ramos says she enjoys swimming, painting, dancing, singing and spending time with animals.
Ramos will carry the state of Alabama’s banner into the national competition later this month, joining hundreds of other young contestants from around the country at Disneyland for a week of events built around the National American Miss program’s mix of pageantry, community spirit and personal development.