Woodbury Girl Learns About Confidence, Charity Through Pageants

WOODBURY, MN— An “almost six-year-old" from Woodbury was recently crowned "Tiny Miss Minnesota" at the Princess of America pageant that took place March 6-7 in Rosemount.

Penelope Schmidt will hold the title of “Tiny Miss Minnesota” until next year’s Princess of America pageant in Minnesota.

Penelope told Patch that she has been participating in pageants for about a year.

The nationals for the Princess of America pageant will take place in July in Missouri, according to Ashlee Schmidt, her mother.

Pageant contestants competed in different sections: personal introductions, interviews, gowns, and an optional section in which Penelope performed a tap dance, Schmidt said.

Penelope said her favorite thing about participating in pageants is wearing pretty dresses and making friends.

“This pageant I made a lot of friends,” Penelope told Patch. “(I’ve been) friends with Skylar since the Frozen Pageant when I was four.”

Schmidt said she likes seeing her daughter gain confidence through the pageants.

Schmidt told Patch that through the pageants, participants take part in various community service projects.

“This pageant in particular has A Crown With A Cause, so they want the participants to have a platform,” Schmidt told Patch.

Penelope’s platform is collecting money through selling cookies to raise money for dancers with special needs at Darby’s Dancers in Woodbury.

During her reigning year, Penelope will participate in further charity events, Schmidt said.

Participating in the pageants has helped Penelope gain confidence over the years, while also teaching her and her family about different ways of participating in community service and fundraising, Schmidt said.

Patch has reached out to Darby's Dancers at Woodbury Dance Center for comment.