Emily West has a lot of challenges in her life, but she isn’t letting that stop her from being a pageant queen and working to help her community.
Emily, who is 6 years old and attends Kathryn Winn Primary, was named Miss Star in December. She competed in Amerifest Kentucky Festivals Pageant, specifically geared for children with special needs.
“I like pageants,” she said with the aid of a communication device. “I like to dress up … pretty pink dress.” Emily has a beautiful pink dress chosen for her next pageant.
Emily has a genetic condition called Sjogren Larsson syndrome and she has cerebral palsy. The syndrome causes her body to not create fatty acids. This affects her skin, intellectual abilities and speech. She functions at about a 3-year-old’s level, according to her teacher. In addition, she had two brain lesions in the womb and was born with cerebral palsy.
“I feel like this is a way for Emily to show just because you’re different, you’re still beautiful the way you are,” her mother, Taylor West, said. Mom said Emily doesn’t let anything get her down. Emily is the daughter of Joshua and Taylor West and she has a 9-year-old brother named Dean. She really likes to say her brother’s name as well as Mommy.
The little girl with the sweet giggle and cute smile is getting ready for her next pageant on Nov. 11 in Lexington. Part of the next pageant includes a humanitarian section, such as collecting items for a community group.
This week she will collect items for the residents of Fairview Place. Donations can be taken to Kathryn Winn Primary School all week. Suggested items include lip balm, adult coloring books, colored pencils, hygiene items, crossword puzzles, crackers, hard candy socks, throw blankets, puzzles and activity books. A collection box will be in the school’s foyer.
Emily and her mom chose this project because Emily has three great grandparents with whom she is very close. “This is our way to help out in the community but also represent her grandparents,” Taylor West said.
Emily, her mom and her teacher, Miranda Geyer, are working on Emily’s walking skills. She was initially going to compete in the pageant in a wheelchair, but she recently got a new walker. “She has gained quite a bit this year,” Taylor West said.
The pageant opportunity arose when Geyer sent the West family some information about pageants involving the school. They needed a participant in the Star category for special needs children and she asked Emily to participate.
“She’s the center of attention in our classroom,” Geyer said, noting all the other students in her class want to walk with Emily or help her use the iPad communication device.
Later in the year Emily will also host a collection of gloves for the needy. “We’re pretty excited about the opportunity,” Taylor West said.
