LUMBERTON, Texas — Four-year-old Piper Hidalgo's parents hosted an event to raise money, so she can attend International Cinderella Scholarship Pageant. They held a fundraiser at Rikenjaks in Lumberton.
Preparing for pageants takes a lot of hard work and dedication. For four-year-old Hidalgo she's been participating in pageantry her whole life and would like to show you her introduction.
"I love pageants," Hidaolgo said.
Her love for pageants started before she could walk.
"So Piper started in pageants when she was one-years-old, and we decided to try a local one out to see if she liked it. And she won almost everything you could win in pageant. she smiled at the judges, she danced to the music, she did all the things," said Hidalgo.
She has chosen to continue pageants, which takes a lot of practice.
"She has a practice or interview skills, she has to practice her walking, her turns. She's also this year decided she wants to do talent optionals and modeling optionals which is where she won this trophy," said Tricia Hidalgo, Piper's mom.
Her favorite talents to perform are tumbling and singing the song.
"Days of the weeks and months of the year," said Piper. "There's Thursday, and there's Friday, and then there's Saturday days of the week."
Piper has gone on to win many trophies and tiaras. Hidalgo says pageants have helped build her daughter's confidence.
"For me pageantry is really about the confidence, and the poise that she gains. And the ability to be confident up there with her self. And silly at times as well," Tricia said.
On Sunday, they held a fundraiser to raise money for Piper to compete in the International Cinderella Scholarship Pageant.
"A portion of the sales that people go in and say that they're there for Piper. And they're helping us by donating a portion of that sales. So we're really excited, and really grateful for a place like Rikenjacks to be in our community," said Tricia.
Piper hopes to use your donations to win another trophy. She tells 12News she wants to grow up to be a pageant queen.