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NAT SOUND: Music and Dani Walker talking.
Dani Walker: I was the former Miss Junior Teen California
and former Teen, Miss Teen California and I decided that I would like to, just get behind
the scenes and start directing pageants.
NAT SOUND: Music and Dani talking
Dani Walker: It was our very first pageant this year for
Miss California Icon and a lot more went into it than I thought would go into it. I definitely
underestimated the amount of work that goes into producing a pageant, let alone an event.
The Miss Icon Organization motto is Be Bold, Be Great, Be You, Believe. And the idea behind
that is to be bold. We want our contestants and queens to fearlessly pursue their dreams.
NAT SOUND: Music and Dani Talking
Monique Daggett: I just was crowned Miss California Teen Icon
and I'm so excited about that. My first pageant was when I was 15. Pageantry is all about
poise and confidence, and knowing who you are.
NAT SOUND: Music and Dani Talking
Victoria Riingin: It teaches girls confidence, poise, public
speaking, how to walk in heels, how to interview, how to write a resume about themselves. I
feel that there are some shows that don't accurately portray pageant women and I feel
that's very hurtful for us who do have titles because we want, we want them to know how
much work, and how much effort we've put into this and how much we're really wanting to
give back to our community and that we're not just running around doing this for a shiny
crown.
Monique Daggett: I've done so much through pageants.
NAT SOUND: Music
Monique Daggett: I've gone to lots of parades and gone to represent different charities,
such as the Humane Society. I've done a lot of work with the Humane Society and Convalescent
Homes.
Dani Walker: The things you're seeing on TV is definitely
not what's going on behind the scenes.
NAT SOUND: Dani talking
Dani Walker: You know, not every little pageant girl is
walking out on the stage with makeup and fake teeth and fake eyelashes. Actually the majority
of pageants in America are natural pageants.
NAT SOUND: Music
Dani Walker: That's why we created the Little Miss Icon
program, it's just to encourage younger girls to be themselves, be natural. So the age division
is four to twelve. They aren't allowed to wear makeup. It's a non-competitive division.
Our goal for that is just to award girls with titles and allow them to start making appearances
in their communities, having fun, creating friendships, and just working on their confidence,
because I don't think it's ever too early to start that.
NAT SOUND: Girls talking
Dani Walker: Pageants definitely give a lot of confidence
to young girls and that's what we want to bring, without all the hair and makeup.
NAT SOUND: talking and laughter