At just four years old, a child from Chatham is already a star in the pageant world.
Last week, Charlotte Bruhlman was crowned 'Miss Border City 2019' in her age group at the first annual Miss Border City Pageant in Windsor. The pageant is for contestants up to 18 years old. Charlotte competed in the 2-4 age category.
According to her mother, Ashley Bruhlman, Charlotte is a normally a reserved child but any signs of timidness go away as soon as she hits the stage.
"It's funny because Charlotte is a really shy little girl," explained Bruhlman. "She's super shy, she has a hard time speaking out until she really gets used to situations, but she loves performing. When she gets on stage she gets so excited."
This is the second pageant Charlotte has competed in, earlier in the year she attended one in Michigan. Bruhlman said she is hopeful that pageants will be a great way to teach her daughter lifelong, valuable transferable skills.
"What I'm hoping is going to come out of this for her, because she's such a shy girl, I'm hoping that being on stage and talking in front of other people will help her with public speaking, when growing up in school and doing presentations. I remember how that felt as a kid, being so scared. I'm hoping that this will kind of take her away from that," said Bruhlman.
Besides helping Charlotte come out of her shell, Bruhlman explained that pageants have also been able to provide many teachable moments about winning and losing.
"The first pageant we went in, she didn't place. She did very well but she really didn't care. She had fun, she got to wear her new pretty dress, it doesn't matter to her," said Bruhlman. "We really try as parents to just drill into her that you just give it your best and that's what's important. You can't always win, its good to lose sometimes."
Bruhlman said she's aware that the idea of child pageants can sometimes come with negative opinions, but she said, in reality, pageants are rarely as dramatic as they are often portrayed in the media. She adds that for any parent considering putting their child in one, the experience is what you make it.
"I know there's a lot of stigma around beauty pageants, but in my opinion, I think it's pretty innocent," she said. "I guess it's all in the parenting as well. Just have fun, it's not about winning."
Besides walking away with a crown and sash, for coming in first place at the Miss Border City Pageant, Charlotte also won a free family photography session. Next, Bruhlman says they have eyes set on hopefully entering a Christmas themed pageant later this year.