Elisabeth Grace Kinsey, 12, has been chosen as a state finalist in the National American Miss Virginia Pageant to be held July 10-12 at the Hyatt Regency Reston.

The National American Miss Pageants are held for girls age 4-18 and have five different age divisions. Elisabeth will be participating in the pre-teen age division.

Elisabeth’s activities include Liberty Spring Christian Church youth group, ballet at Suffolk Parks and Recreation and homeschooling. She also enjoys reading, listening to music, guitar, gaming, programming and fashion design. Her sponsors include ecoMechanical Heaitng and Cooling, C3 Vino and Shooting Star Gallery.

The winner of the pageant will receive a $1,000 cash award, the official crown and banner, a bouquet of roses and air transportation to compete in the National Pageant in California, where she will receive an exciting complimentary Tour of Hollywood and two V.I.P. tickets to Disneyland.

The National American Miss Pageants are dedicated to celebrating America’s future leaders and equipping them with life-long skills. Each year the pageant nationally awards $1.5 million in cash, scholarships and other prizes.

The National American Miss Pageants are unlike any other. All activities and competitions are kept age appropriate. Girls under the age of 12 are not allowed to wear makeup, and there is no swimsuit competition. Emphasis is placed on the importance of developing self-confidence, learning good sportsmanship and setting and achieving personal goals.