Marion police officers and local business owners gathered at town hall on Friday to help a young girl achieve her dreams of competing in pageants.
Emonni Kelly, 3, has been competing in pageants for two years and was recently named Mississippi’s Universal Beauty for the age 3-4 category and plans to add many more titles and accolades in the years to come.
Police Chief Randall Davis said he is personally aware of the demands pageant life has on a family as his daughter, Cameron Davis, also competed. Cameron was previously named Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen in 2022 and is currently a student at the University of Mississippi on a scholarship earned from her pageant competitions.
Davis said competing in pageants isn’t easy as it requires extensive travel, hotel costs, time off work and more. However, he said, the benefits of competing far outweigh the costs.
Kelly was presented with a check from the Marion Police Department Foundation to help cover the expenses of her pageants. Southern Accents’ Jeanne Calvert-Jones also recognized Kelly’s efforts and presented her with a bracelet to wear during her competitions.
Through the MPD Foundation, Davis said, his goal is to give today’s youth the resources and support they need to be successful.