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In the Pipeline: Pageant winner is serious about literacy

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I’m waiting to speak with the newly crowned Miss Huntington Beach, but she is busy. Watching as she works on college applications, writing essays and drafting her resume, I am impressed. I’m aware of how busy she is at school, juggling advanced placement courses while also preparing for a part in an upcoming school production.

I don’t mind waiting, because as I’ve learned watching her grow over the last 18 years, Claire Margaret Epting, along with being creative, is also focused and responsible.

As I mentioned in this column a couple of weeks ago, my daughter was honored to have been crowned in the recent Miss Huntington Beach Scholarship Pageant.

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Miss Huntington Beach has been a tradition for more than 100 years. Since its inception, it has evolved into an honor that rewards values, hard work and integrity.

This has already been an amazing experience. Claire has appeared at several events, including a school Halloween festival and at the marker dedication for Robin Samsoe, a 12-year-old girl who was slain 35 years ago.

But she wanted me to let everyone know exactly what her platform had been when she entered the competition: children’s literacy.

“For the last several years I have performed at local schools and libraries in character as a princess,” she explained. “Part of my performances, which have helped raise essential amounts of money for libraries, is to read with children. As an avid reader myself, it pains me to think that there are children today that are illiterate past a reading age.”

To that end, Claire has reached out to the local Barnes & Noble, and she is going to begin a book drive to help any local school libraries that need more children’s books. But she also wants to focus on the idea of helping young children read.

In fact, Claire would like to hear from any teachers in the city who would like to be part of this mission. She is also open to any ideas for boosting children’s literacy.

The Miss Huntington Beach entry form includes a section asking the contestants why they want to be crowned. Claire’s answer represents a positive message for young people.

“No. 1, I love the city so much and I’m so proud of it that I want to be able to represent it to as many people as possible,” she replied. “But No. 2, and perhaps more importantly, I want to let other young women know that achieving something this important doesn’t mean you have to be the prettiest or the most popular. I believe in working very hard at school, contributing to the community in every way that I can and helping those in need.

“I also believe the positive role models make a difference, and if I can help be a person that represents not just high academic standards but also high community standards, that to me is what will matter. We live in a society that puts lots of pressure on young women to look a certain way or act a certain way. I want to be able to show young women that it’s OK to just believe in yourself and be the best that you can be, without having to worry about what others think of you.”

Our family is proud, and we have no doubt that Claire will take her role as a city ambassador seriously. We also congratulate Claire’s court, Jena Jean Farris and Alexis Rodriguez, and look forward to watching these three young, talented women become friends over the course of the next year while positively representing our city.

CHRIS EPTING is the author of 25 books. You can chat with him on Twitter @chrisepting or follow his column at https://www.facebook.com/hbindependent.

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