Nyla Edwards
A 13-year-old Maplewood girl will be representing the State of New Jersey at the National American Miss Pageant in Anaheim, CA this November.
Nyla Edwards, daughter of Trent and Anya Edwards and a rising 8th grader at Our Lady of Sorrows School in South Orange, earned the title of Miss Preteen New Jersey at the 2016 National American Miss state pageant held August 14 in New Brunswick.
Nyla will attend the National Pageant to be held in Disneyland during Thanksgiving week, representing New Jersey where she will have the opportunity to win her share of more than $500,000 in cash and prizes.
At the state competition, Nyla was recognized for her activities which include volleyball, altar serving, Girl Scouts, track & field, acting and babysitting.
According to a release from the organizers, the pageant is “based on inner beauty, poise and presentation and offers an ‘All American Spirit’ of fun for family and friends. Emphasis is placed on the importance of gaining self-confidence, learning new skills, learning good attitudes about competition, and setting and achieving personal goals. The Pageant seeks to recognize the accomplishment of each girl while encouraging her to set goals for the future.”
“Nyla has learned that good things come from preparation, determination and focus,” said her mother Anya Edwards. “She worked really hard in preparing for this pageant and she was rewarded for it. She’s also gained a lot of confidence in herself as a result of her success. Her father and I are really proud of the independent young lady that she is growing into.”
Nyla’s sponsors for the pageant were Maplecrest Ford Lincoln, Maplewood Pizzeria, South Orange Dental Center, the Cliffs at Eagle Rock, Robert Northfield, Dr. Petlover, and friend and family. “She funded most of the cost of the pageant through a GoFundMe page,” said her mother, “and will likely have to do the same for the national pageant. Family, friends and the Maplewood/South Orange community have been very supportive.”
According to the National American Miss Pageants, the program awards $1.5 million in cash, scholarships and prizes to “recognize and assist the development of young women nationwide” each year.
You can help Nyla fund her national pageant effort here: www.gofundme.com/nyla-edwards.
