By Guy Chapman – Navarro County Gazette
The 2022 Junior Miss America AUS pageant is set to take place this upcoming Saturday, August 13, and one young Corsicana resident is set to try for winning the United States crown.
Addie Burke is a Corsicana Middle School student officially representing the Lone Star State and her community of Corsicana at the America’s United States National Pageant. The pageant is Burke’s first time ever participating as a contestant, and is an all-new experience for her.
When asked how she felt about being involved, Burke responded with “Nervous.”
“It’s going to be fun though,” Burke said.
Addie became interested in trying out for the pageant in April after talking with Sidney Tindall, a student who works with the Navarro Cheer team and is currently Miss Lone Star State AUS 2022.
“She chose me to be her Princess,” Burke explained. “My mom signed me up for competing for Junior Miss Lone Star State, and I got it.”
Burke also placed second in the pageant’s photo contest, and has been spending her time doing local community service.
When asked what she hopes to take from the experience, Burke replied with “Patience.”
The contestant will be competing against 50 other qualified candidates. Each contestant will perform specific activities such as interviews, followed by an opening number, a fun fashion show, and a ball gown performance the next day.
Burke is advocating on the platform of spreading awareness regarding grief loss for children, a cause she is personally invested in.
“When I was a kid, I struggled with some losses, and I went to Camp Agape, and it healed my tiny heart,” she said. “One out of five children lose someone they’re close to. 54 percent can’t find support.”
Burke left for Ohio at the beginning of July to work on volunteer hours, selling tickets for the NFL Hall of Fame. The trip is also an opportunity to spend time with her family, before heading to Albemarle, North Carolina, a town just outside of Charlotte for the actual pageant.
If she wins, Burke would attend the Camp Agape 5K run as her first official appearance. After competing at the national level, Burke would be eligible to continue to compete in higher level pageants. Currently, she is being sponsored by Innovative Therapy, The Red Brumby and Visual.
As for her future in pageants, Burke may keep her current reign to this competition only.
Burke’s photos can be seen on her Instagram page. The event can be live streamed through the VIP Pageantry app on Aug. 13.
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