Airdrie’s Ashley Gillespie has already had a busy end to 2011 – and her schedule is about to become even more hectic.
The seven-year-old was crowned Little Miss Calgary 2012 on Dec. 18 at the Irene Besse Concert Hall and will soon be the youngest member of the nine-person team with Airdrie Edge Gymnastics Club that is heading to an international competition in Hawaii.
The Aloha Gymfest will take place in Oahu from Jan. 13-16, but Gillespie is still thrilled about her recent pageant win.
“I’ve never won anything like this before, so it was really exciting,” she said.
“It’s a really great idea for a pageant that builds confidence and teaches young people public speaking, and presentation on stage,” said Gillespie’s mother Renee. “This is not Toddlers and Tiaras (the controversial TLC show). Ashley’s goal is to inspire other kids her age to reach for their goals. She is a really great kid.”
The pageant, which has been running since 1985, is open for contestants ages six to 10. A panel of four to six people, ranging from doctors to teachers, judge the girls in a fashion show, a choreographed dance and on an answer to a question they made up themselves.
“The focus is on the beauty within a child and the development of life skills,” Renee said. “It’s based on your self-confidence, your poise, and the way you present yourself.”
As Little Miss Calgary, Gillespie already has commitments to appear at 125 events throughout 2012, including at the Calgary Stampede and the Stampede Parade. But there is also work involving various charity groups and Gillespie plans on cutting 10 inches off her hair in September to raise money for the Epilepsy Association of Calgary.
“I’m really proud that Ashley will be working with a variety of charitable causes,” Renee said.
As for the Hawaiian competition, Gillespie, who turns eight on the first day, said she is eager to perform.
“I’ve done lots of travelling, but I’m really looking forward to it,” she said. “And I’m going to win this one too.”
