By Staff
Mariah-Joy Francois, daughter of Marty and Marleigh Francois of Dowagiac, won first runner-up in national competition last weekend in Chicago at the New Star Discovery Pageant.
There Mariah-Joy, won first runner-up, a trophy and her entry fee paid to the state pageant.
Because she lives in Michigan, she was able to compete in the state pageant May 21-22 in Kalamazoo.
She won the Michigan title for the 3- to 4-year-old division along with three trophies, a crown, a $250 savings bond, a special gift, a New Star Discovery banner and a scepter, along with her entry fee paid to nationals and a year of traveling and hosting regional contests and being guest of honor at the 2006 state finals.
This past weekend nationals for New Star Discovery took place at the Crowne Plaza at O'Hare.
Mariah-Joy, who just turned 5 years old and will be starting kindergarten at McKinley Elementary School this fall, won first runner-up for the 3- to 4-year-old division, a Beautiful crown, three trophies and a special gift.
She will also be able to represent New Star Discovery as a national winner throughout the year.
Mariah-Joy also competed in the National American Miss Pageant princess division July 21-23 in Detroit.
There were 69 contestants from all over Michigan.
Although Mariah-Joy did not bring home the crown, she did make it to the top 10 semi-finalists and won second in the talent competition singing "How Much is That Doggie in the Window?"
She also won "Most Promising Model," for which she received a trophy and a $1,000 modeling scholarship.
Mariah-Joy will be starting her third year at Miss Kathy's School of Dance, where she takes ballet, acrobatics and tap classes.
She also takes piano lessons. She played tee ball for the first time this summer. She is loving and fun and says the best part of pageants is meeting all her new friends from all over the United States.
She would like to thank all her family and friends who supported her and sponsored her. A big thank you to Miss Kathy's School of Dance and the Lighthouse Christian Childcare Center.
Mariah-Joy's family also includes a sister, Ada, 10, and two brothers, Austin, 10, and Roman, 2.
Her grandparents are the Rev. Gerald and Joyce Bushnell of Dowagiac, pastor of the Church of God Full Gospel in Niles, and Kenneth and Mona Francois of Mamou, La.