There are pageants — and then, there are pageants. One on November’s calendar stands out from the crowd. It may be six weeks out yet, but organizers want to ensure potential participants know well in advance about the Rebecca’s Rooms “I Am Me” Beauty and Beau pageant. This event celebrating special needs children and adults is set for Saturday, Nov. 15 at 10 a.m. at the New Hope Middle School Auditorium in Columbus. Deadline for entry is midnight, Oct. 31.
Rebecca’s Rooms founder and Board President Reid Carter of Columbus said, “We want to celebrate the uniqueness of each individual as well as give the parents and caretakers recognition for all they do.”
Rebecca’s Rooms is a non-profit organization created by Reid and Cindy Carter to honor the memory of their late daughter, Rebecca. Rebecca had a chromosome abnormality called Trisomy 13, which caused her to have multiple disabilities and medical problems. The Carters are well aware of how important it is for a child with disabilities to have a room unique to their requirements. The volunteer group’s mission is to provide as many of those children as possible with a newly remodeled and decorated room customized to their personality and needs.
The reigning Miss Mississippi Jasmine Murray, in the Top Ten at this year’s Miss America pageant and a former “American Idol” finalist, will entertain at the event. Miss USA 2002, Shauntay Hinton, will emcee.
Rebecca’s Rooms board member Denene Pate said, “We’re so excited about the ‘I Am Me’ pageant! So many times special needs children and adults get ‘left out’ of things because of their disability. We want to celebrate each of them for who they are.”
Attire is the contestant’s choice. Rooms will be available for entrants to dress. Registration is free. Check-in registration Nov. 15 is from 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Participants do not have to live in Lowndes County. To register, or to sponsor a contestant, go to rebeccasrooms.com.
Admission at the door, for everyone except contestants, is $5; children 5 and younger attend free.
“Everyone will receive a crown and sash,” said Pate. “Rebecca’s Rooms feels that every contestant is beautiful!”
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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