‘You can do anything’: Young Alaskans prepare for Miss Alaska pageant

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Young people from across Alaska are preparing to take the stage at the Miss Alaska Elementary, Jr. High, High School, and Collegiate America Pageant in Anchorage.

Among them is 11-year-old Anabella Paajanen, Miss Kotzebue Senior Elementary, who wants other girls to know a learning disability doesn’t define what they can do.

“She did get the diagnosis and she was dyslexic and had dysgraphia both,” Jenny Paajanen, Anabella’s mom, said. “Dysgraphia is when you have difficulty writing, like in a straight line, like you’ll go up or down.”

Jenny homeschooled Anabella for most of her life and said tutoring has helped make progress with reading.

“She tutored three times a day, like three times a week. So she has definitely had a lot of perseverance and has worked really hard,” Jenny said.

Jenny said entering Anabella into the Miss Alaska Pageant gave her another way to learn.

“This is actually part of her homeschool and she had to go around to local businesses in Kotzebue and talk to them,” Jenny added. “Stand straight, look people in the eye, introduce who you are.”

Anabella is also using the pageant’s anti-bullying platform to talk about dyslexia and share a message with other girls.

“I want girls my age to know that no matter what the disability, you can do anything,” Anabella said.

Pageant details

The 2027 Miss Alaska Pageant will be held this weekend in Anchorage. Contestants compete in interview, fun fashion and evening gown. Organizers said no pageant experience is necessary.

See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com