More than a Teen Queen

“It was so amazing to win Pioneer Day Queen.

Even if you have a learning disability, you are smart, you can do amazing things and learn a lot." —Molli Verdugo.

A teen with a learning disability, raised by her grandmother in a small town…an unlikely queen? I think not. It’s the challenges, barriers and obstacles that we go through that builds character.

“Even if you have a learning disability, you are smart, you can do amazing things and learn a lot." —Molli Verdugo.

Molli Verdugo and I are both from Kearny, Arizona—a small town of around 2,000 people. We first met virtually while I was working as a reporter for 3TV in Phoenix. She reached out to me on Twitter, asked me to follow her, and we connected.

When we first met in person, I was hosting Kearny’s 2019 Pioneer Days Fashion Show where she was competing for Queen. She gave me a big hug and reminded me of our Twitter connection.

She then excitedly introduced me to her grandparents.

“They taught me that even though I have a learning disability, I can still be smart,” she said.

Her grandmother had tears in her eyes while she beamed with pride.

I told Molli, “It’s true, and you can achieve anything you want. Don’t forget that.”

Then, her grandfather turned to me and said, “I knew your father.”

It’s a phrase I hear often when I visit my hometown. It’s still hard for me to talk about my parents, even 10 years after they died. It’s been difficult for me to visit my hometown because it’s full of so many memories that I can no longer share with them, but when I do visit Kearny, it’s to see my Tio Rudy..

…and for the privilege of spending time with girls like Molli.

The best part of hosting the Pioneer Days Fashion Shows

is connecting with teens like Molli.
I know how important it is to build a network of mentors when you’re from a small town.
I realized as a young kid that in order to be exposed to a variety of career options, you need a network of mentors.
I hope to be a resource for teens like Molli, so I accepted the invitation to host Kearny’s Pioneer Days Fashion Show for the second year in a row.

It’s at these fashion shows that I get to meet young ladies who work hard to help their community while competing for the Pioneer Days Queen and Junior Queen titles.

This year, I also got to bring a friend. I met LiAna Enriquez while working at 3TV in Phoenix. She is a reporter and investigative producer. I invited her along to the fashion show, so that she could talk to the young ladies about her experience growing up with her own challenges. She explained how she was able to find the light and the will to finish college and pursue a career in television.

LiAna Enriquez

LiAna is a great example of how life’s challenges do not need to stop you from achieving your goals.
A teenage pregnancy did not stop her from working hard to get an education and land the job of her dreams.
She’s been working at 3TV now for 16 years.

It’s connections with people like LiAna, that we get to recognize how strong we can be and how determination and motivation can be such a powerful combination.

Molli is learning this as she continues to break down barriers. Her determination and support from her family was rewarded with the Pioneer Day Queen crown. I hope she continues to use her learning disability to inspire and motivate others.

I also hope the other contestants know they are winners, too. Each one of them had to give a speech during the competition, and they were brave, strong, and beautiful as they took the first step towards accomplishing their goals.

More than a Teen Queen

A teen with a learning disability, raised by her grandmother in a small town…an unlikely queen? I think not. It’s the challenges, barriers and obstacles that we go through that builds character.

“Even if you have a learning disability, you are smart, you can do amazing things and learn a lot." —Molli Verdugo.

Molli Verdugo and I are both from Kearny, Arizona—a small town of around 2,000 people. We first met virtually while I was working as a reporter for 3TV in Phoenix. She reached out to me on Twitter, asked me to follow her, and we connected.

When we first met in person, I was hosting Kearny’s 2019 Pioneer Days Fashion Show where she was competing for Queen. She gave me a big hug and reminded me of our Twitter connection.

She then excitedly introduced me to her grandparents.

“They taught me that even though I have a learning disability, I can still be smart,” she said.

Her grandmother had tears in her eyes while she beamed with pride.

I told Molli, “It’s true, and you can achieve anything you want. Don’t forget that.”

Then, her grandfather turned to me and said, “I knew your father.”

…and for the privilege of spending time with girls like Molli.

It’s at these fashion shows that I get to meet young ladies who work hard to help their community while competing for the Pioneer Days Queen and Junior Queen titles.

It’s connections with people like LiAna, that we get to recognize how strong we can be and how determination and motivation can be such a powerful combination.

Molli is learning this as she continues to break down barriers. Her determination and support from her family was rewarded with the Pioneer Day Queen crown. I hope she continues to use her learning disability to inspire and motivate others.

I also hope the other contestants know they are winners, too. Each one of them had to give a speech during the competition, and they were brave, strong, and beautiful as they took the first step towards accomplishing their goals.

Keep going. You’ll get there.

Until next time… your local girl, Erika Flores. (Periodista Fashionista)

More than a Teen Queen

A teen with a learning disability, raised by her grandmother in a small town…an unlikely queen? I think not. It’s the challenges, barriers and obstacles that we go through that builds character.

“Even if you have a learning disability, you are smart, you can do amazing things and learn a lot." —Molli Verdugo.

Molli Verdugo and I are both from Kearny, Arizona—a small town of around 2,000 people. We first met virtually while I was working as a reporter for 3TV in Phoenix. She reached out to me on Twitter, asked me to follow her, and we connected.

When we first met in person, I was hosting Kearny’s 2019 Pioneer Days Fashion Show where she was competing for Queen. She gave me a big hug and reminded me of our Twitter connection.

She then excitedly introduced me to her grandparents.

“They taught me that even though I have a learning disability, I can still be smart,” she said.

Her grandmother had tears in her eyes while she beamed with pride.

I told Molli, “It’s true, and you can achieve anything you want. Don’t forget that.”

Then, her grandfather turned to me and said, “I knew your father.”

…and for the privilege of spending time with girls like Molli.

It’s at these fashion shows that I get to meet young ladies who work hard to help their community while competing for the Pioneer Days Queen and Junior Queen titles.

It’s connections with people like LiAna, that we get to recognize how strong we can be and how determination and motivation can be such a powerful combination.

Molli is learning this as she continues to break down barriers. Her determination and support from her family was rewarded with the Pioneer Day Queen crown. I hope she continues to use her learning disability to inspire and motivate others.

I also hope the other contestants know they are winners, too. Each one of them had to give a speech during the competition, and they were brave, strong, and beautiful as they took the first step towards accomplishing their goals.

Keep going. You’ll get there.

Until next time… your local girl, Erika Flores. (Periodista Fashionista)

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