Vernon Teen Helps Others En Route To Pageant Title

VERNON – A local teenager has showed her community the importance of helping others and, at the same time, overcoming potential obstacles that can be thrown your way.

On April 23, Vernon resident Isabella "Izzy" Kirchmeier, 16, received a surprise when she was crowned the 2022 CT Miss Amazing Jr. Teen.

Miss Amazing is a national self-esteem movement led for and by girls and women with disabilities raising awareness within their communities.

Izzy Kirchmeier has intellectual disabilities, but it doesn't stop her from caring for others.

The Miss Amazing event is not your traditional beauty pageant, but rather an opportunity for the young ladies to demonstrate their abilities, rather than focusing on their disability.

Each contestant displays a "Passion Presentation" and goes through an interview process with Miss Connecticut and two other judges.

For example, Izzy dressed up and had her hair and make-up done for the event and was able to select the perfect dress from Cornerstone’s Prom Boutique for the event.

But it was her "Passion Presentation" that helped win judges over as she chose the Diaper Bank at Cornerstone in Rockville-Vernon to focus on.

The diaper bank serves the area by giving out diapers to parents in need and each family can receive 50 diapers per month per child for free with this program.

Izzy described to judges what the diaper bank is and how she has been involved.

She has been a help to Cornerstone organizing the diaper bank area and giving the diapers to those in need.

Currently, there are more than 100 children receiving diapers from the Cornerstone Diaper Bank.

As the newly crowned 2022 CT Miss Amazing Jr. Teen, Izzy now has the opportunity to compete at the National Miss Amazing Summit in Nashville, Tenn., this summer.

Competing nationally to represent Connecticut is a huge honor and one Izzy said she is very excited about. Her family is currently fundraising for this trip.

Cornerstone thanked Izzy for her continued dedication to the diaper bank and the many other projects she has helped with over the years.

"We are so proud of the young lady she is becoming and wish her well on her trip to Nashville this summer," reads a statement from Cornerstone.

Learn more about Miss Amazing Amplify at missamazing.org.

To help support Izzy’s trip to nationals, donate online at bit.ly/CrownIzzy.

Sign up for the Diaper Bank at Cornerstone at cornerstone-cares.org/diaperbank.