The focus is solely on the participants this weekend at the ninth-annual pageant for girls and young women with special needs. It has been 10 years now since Daleney Marie Teske, formerly of Mt. Carmel, was crowned Little Miss You Can Do It. That experience was the inspiration for her parents, Dave and Dayna, to begin their own event that incorporates Daleney’s initials, the Dreams Made True Pageant.
The competition is open to those five to 25 years old, and Dayna says she has learned a lot from others through these experiences. What their aim has been throughout is to offer that same thing to other families. But the main goal is to give these girls and young women the chance to shine, a chance to be the star, to get their hair, makeup and nails done and to get on the stage while creating lifelong friendships.
About three years ago, the Teskes relocated to Minnesota, but have kept the pageant alive, thanks to the help of about 60 to 70 local volunteers. Dayna says they couldn’t do this without businesses and individuals who give to the pageant. The event kicks off Friday with a meet-and-greet and rehearsal, where contestants will get to know their buddies and escorts. They then come back in the morning for judge interviews and preparations for the pageant at 3 p.m. Saturday. There is a winner, a runner up and judges choice in each of the four categories: Little Miss, five to 11 year olds; Junior Miss, 11 to 14; Teen Miss, 15 to 19; and then Miss Dreams Made True is 20 to 25 years old. They also do other categories, such as Miss Congeniality, Best Formal Wear, etc. Daleney is also very active in the pageant and the process.
There are 18 entrants in this year’s pageant and Daleney says there is one way that the entire area can help them out this weekend.
Each contestant is asked to come back this fall to ride in the Band Day Parade. Everyone in the community is invited to attend and cheer on the young ladies and Dayna says they could use some help with set up and decorating on Friday. Anyone interested in helping can contact Dayna through the number listed below. Daleney, who suffered a brain hemorrhage before birth and was diagnosed with a quadriplegic form of cerebral palsy, will be entering her senior year of high school in Buffalo, Minn. this fall. She has been in the marching band for all four years and was inducted into the National Honor Society last year. She is not sure where she is going to go to college yet, but she wants to major in either English or journalism.
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To contact Dayna Teske about volunteering, call 712-292-0368
Donors include: Fareway, Stone Printing, the Carroll Community School District, Trophies Plus, Pizza Ranch, Clay Haley, the Carroll Rotary Club, all area hotels who gave discounted room rates, a number area nurses who volunteer their time for the healthcare needs of contestants, local beauticians, computer technicians, Sound and Service, the escorts, buddies, princesses and many, many more
