Sequim acrobat seeks Miss Washington Junior Pre-Teen title

Nine-year-old Genevieve Wakefield is jumping and spinning her way to the finals for her first pageant.

This week, the Helen Haller Elementary fourth-grader competes in the Miss Washington Junior Pre-Teen (ages 7-9) title.

“I feel confident,” Genevieve said.

“I’ve been on stage before in acrobatics performances and my jazz performance. This year was my first acrobatics performance. It gives me real smiles, so we don’t have to practice smiles especially when I’m on stage.”

She competes against 20 or more girls on Saturday, Aug. 31, at the Hotel Murano in Tacoma, with tickets free to watch.

The following day, Miss Washington Junior Pre-Teen is crowned.

Genevieve said she learned she was a finalist in mid-June, and that she never imagined herself being in a pageant before.

“This pageant changed my whole thoughts on pageants because it’s not just about beauty. This is more about real world skill building and confidence,” she said.

At the competition, she’ll be judged 10 percent on a community service project, 30 percent on her personal introduction, 30 percent on her personality during a personal interview, and 30 percent on poise and personality in formal wear.

“It’s definitely not a beauty pageant,” Genevieve said. “You can’t even wear makeup until you’re 12 or older.”

For her community service project, she received a sponsorship from a staffer at the Clallam Co-Op Farm & Garden who bought several children’s book to donate to Tacoma charities for in-need children.

Genevieve has her personal introduction ironed out, too, mentioning her hometown, hobbies and her aspiration to become an acrobatics teacher.

For formal wear, Genevieve and her mom Lula picked out a pink dress than recently arrived after nearly two months of waiting.

Along with the main competition, Genevieve entered two optional contests for talent and being photogenic.

She’ll share her acrobatic skills for her talent, thanks to her time at Sequim Acrobatics. Genevieve staged a routine to the Alan Parsons Project’s “Sirious.”

She also submitted two photos from Morning Star Photography for the photo contest.

For the optional and main contest, she has the chance to win multiple prizes — including a VIP trip to Disneyland. If Genevieve wins the title of Miss Washington Junior Pre-Teen, she’ll compete in the National Competition over Thanksgiving weekend for the chance at the national title.

Lula said her daughter doesn’t and hasn’t ever gotten nervous before performances since she started with tap and jazz at Aspire Academy.

One thing Genevieve will receive this weekend is a Platinum Spotlight Ambassador award with a giant trophy, flowers and a shiny crown on stage for approaching community members to sponsor her efforts. She received commitments for three pages of business cards from supportive businesses in Sequim.

Prior to the pageant, Genevieve plans to practice her walking and speaking.

Quick facts: Genevieve is a twin with brother Joshua. They moved to Sequim six years ago. When she grows up, she wants to become an acrobatics teacher, and while she likes Sequim she’ll probably live in a bigger city when she’s older.

For more information on the National American Miss pageants, visit www.namiss.com.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.

Genevieve Wakefield said the Miss Washington Junior Pre-Teen competition is “definitely not a beauty pageant” this weekend. “You can’t even wear makeup until you’re 12 or older,” she said. Genevieve hopes her love for acrobatics, jazz dance, pigs, writing and her family and friends will show judges why she deserves the title and a shot at the national title. Photo courtesy of Lula Wakefield