Royalty Courts across the county gear up for Miss Sparkle Pageant

The royalty courts in the surrounding areas of Lavaca and DeWitt Counties are gearing up for the Miss Sparkle Pageant, a pageant that’s exclusively for special needs youth.

The Miss Sparkle Pageant will be held this Sunday, Aug. 27 at 4 p.m. at the Cuero ISD Performing Arts Center. With 20 contestants from across the counties and about 50 volunteers, this event should prove to be a heartwarming experience for all the contestants and those in attendance.

“I try to make this day as special and perfect as possible. The goal is to give these girls an opportunity that the rest of us have and that they don’t necessarily always have access to,” Director of Miss Sparkle Pageant Dallyn Pesek said. “I coach a special needs cheer team also and I try and let these girls experience everything I’ve been able to do. This is about celebrating the girls and showing others their abilities and not their disabilities.”

Volunteers are a big part in the success of the day. Each contestant will get two buddies. Volunteers will help by decorating the stage.

“The (buddies) will basically be with them all day making the day so fun for them and prepping the contestants where they need to be and getting them ready for the big show,” Pesek said. “I have four volunteers who are guys. They will get to dress up in a tuxedo and take the girls on the stage during the formal wear and talent. Two judges will conduct interviews and Brother Gary Moses will MC the pageant.”

This is the sixth year that the Miss Sparkle Pageant has been around.

“We had to take a year off during COVID. The first pageant was actually held in Shiner and it grew a lot,” Pesek said. “As wonderful as it was having it in Shiner, it just was not the best place for us to have it these days as we have many more contestants.”

Pesek is the current Miss Shiner and is very passionate about lifting people with special needs up and volunteering. She aims to continue to do this type of social work in the future.

I would encourage all of my peers to volunteer for future events like this,” Pesek said. “It’s a very rewarding and humbling experience. It’s really just a feel good day for everyone. I like to call it my favorite day of the year. If you get to come in and experience it, whether you volunteered or not, you will walk out of there feeling like you just witnessed something amazing.”

The Shiner Royalty Court will also be in attendance volunteering for the Miss Sparkle Pageant.

Miss Shiner Ambassador, Patricia Price Young, is volunteering for her third year and said, “This is hands down the best day, I just wish I could be everyone’s buddy because each contestant is so amazing.”

The event is sponsored by local businesses and individuals from DeWitt and Lavaca County.

The Miss Sparkle Pageant is indeed an event you don’t want to miss.