Little Miss Flint, Amariyanna “Mari” Copeny, is vying for the title of Miss Michigan.
Copeny announced on Tuesday that she had been accepted for the 2022 Miss Michigan Teen USA competition.
“Something exciting for me is happening! I decided to apply to Miss Michigan Teen USA, and I was accepted to compete. I just hit the minimum age to compete. But to get there, I need your help. If I win, it’s a whole new platform to raise awareness about water,” she tweeted.
Copeny’s acceptance email from 2022 Miss Michigan USA and Miss Michigan Teen USA praised her exceptional application and stated that the 14-year-old has everything it takes to compete.
“It appears you have everything it takes to be a brand ambassador for this organization. With that said – we are pleased to announce that you have been selected as a state contestant for the 2022 MISS MICHIGAN TEEN USA,” the organization wrote in the acceptance email.
Copeny launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for pageant expenses such as an outfit, registration, and headshots.
“Due this week is the registration fee ($150), my dress deposit ($300), and headshot session (not sure on cost yet). Help make my dream come true to be able to compete on state level for Miss Michigan Teen USA,” she tweeted.
Her GoFundMe page has received over $1,300 in donations so far, with a goal of $4,000 set. Copeny described why pageantry is the next step in her path and what she hopes to do with the remaining funds in a poignant post on the donation website.
“What many don’t know about me is I started out doing pageants when I was little. When I was little, I had quite a few speech issues, so bad that I was teased about it and got to the point where I didn’t really want to talk. I was in speech from pre-school until the 6th grade. Pageants helped me find my voice and gain the confidence I needed to work through it. Pageants gave me the confidence and platform that ultimately led me to take care of my community,” Copeny wrote.
“It has been several years since I have stepped foot onto a pageant stage,” she added. “But I finally am old enough to compete in Miss Michigan Teen USA this year, so I applied. And I was accepted to compete in the upcoming pageant in May. But to get there, I will need some help covering pageant fees and related costs (dress, shoes, headshots, hotel, etc.). If I win, I will be one of the youngest ever to be crowned Miss Michigan Teen USA, not to mention the vast platform it will give me to spread even more awareness about toxic water across the country. Any leftover funds will be used towards my back-to-school drive.”
The 2022 Miss Michigan USA and Miss Michigan Teen USA pageants will be held in Port Huron, Michigan on May 27-28, 2022.
