Pre-Teen Miss New Zealand World Finals 2019

Hello my names Keana Kearns and I’m 11 years old and live in a small town called oamaru in the South Island New Zealand, and when I grow up I would like to be a nurse.

I have a small family here I’ve got my great nan, mum and a 9 year old sister and she has autism.

Three years ago I decided I would I give modeling and pageants ago I wanted to do it because I liked meeting new people and I was hoping it would give me more confidence and it was something very different to anything else I’ve done.

My Great Grandad always said that one day I would be Miss New Zealand I never belived him and I laughed a lot because I didnt think I was ever good enough to do something like that.

Three years ago I started modeling and I had a go at my first pageant and I won the whole competition and I loved it. I keept going and since then I've won.

Ultimate Grand Supreme New Zealand.

Miss Juniour Australia Ultimate.

Grand Supreme National winner.

Juniour Australia National Talent winner.

Miss Glitz Junior Grand Supreme National Winner.

Camerons Clothing Oamaru model/Brand ambassador.

Pre Teen Miss New Zealand.

At the end of last year all my hard work paid of and I got selected to represent New Zealand in the world finals as Pre Teen Miss New Zealand at the Royal International Miss pageant world finals in Orlando Florida USA It's something I have worked so so hard for and it's my dream come true.

My Great Grandad I think would be really proud of me but he died before I entered my first pageant and I wish he was here to see what I've achieved. So going to the finals means absolutely everything to me.

Im really excited that Ive got so much more confidence and I really want to go and win this last competition I'm so close and I dont want to give up I've worked so hard and winning this or just getting to go and compete and have that experince means EVERYTHING to me I cant exlain it.

I understand that going to this competition means it’s going to cost a lot of money and because my sister is special needs and has lots of challenges. It means we have to make extra allowances and have extra costs that other families don’t normally have to make and that means for us bringing a support worker to help her because it’s to much for me and my mum to do on our own. This way we can all enjoy the experience as family and I would really love to have my mum and sister there to support me. My everyday life is very differnt to most others because of Indi and her needs but I wouldnt go anywhere with out her we are a family and we stick together.

So I am going to be spending the next 12 months fundraising and making appearances and I’m going to use my title to help bring more a awareness to autism and I’ll be doing everything I can alongside that to try and help raise as much as I can to help go towards the costs of my trip.

My goal is to raise $6,000 I have till the 1st of June 2019 to raise this.

I would like to thank everyone who takes the time out of there day to read my letter it means a lot to me and to those who donate I personally thank you with all of my heart for helping make my dreams come true.