To say that Kennedie Clinton is a go-getter would be an understatement.
The Durant High School sophomore was named as queen during Plant City’s Junior Royalty Pageant in January. In May, Clinton has her eyes set on receiving the crown for Miss Florida Teen USA.
The event, held in Coral Springs from May 27 to May 29, will be her second time vying for the No. 1 spot. In last year’s competition, she became a semi-finalist after making it into the Top 17 of 50 girls throughout Florida. That rank allowed her to be invited back as a contender again.
“I got accepted last year,” Clinton said. “It was based on my grades. It was based on things I’ve done in my community, past pageants, and a lot of other things.”
She has coaches that are helping to train her for the interviewing process and her method of walking. During the interview, each young lady is asked to express a message to the audience.
“Mine is about creating a safe space for LGBTQ youth,” Clinton said. “I’d like to see a lot more inclusion.”
The three-day pageantry will consist of a dinner party, costume competition, a photoshoot, rehearsals and the interviews. The queen will receive not only a crown, but a plaque and sash as well.
Being that this is her second year competing for Miss Florida Teen USA, Clinton said that she’s much more confident in herself.
She will also have the opportunity to meet up with other girls who were in the pageant last year, including one of her best friends.
Becoming the 2022 Junior Royalty queen was a big accomplishment in itself.
“It was very exciting,” Clinton said. “I was honestly in complete shock. My first pageant ever was the Junior Royalty Queen Festival Pageant. I did it the year before and I got first runner-up, so being able to win it in my last year eligible, one year later, it made me so excited.”
She recalled that she had some of her best experiences as queen while at the Florida Strawberry Festival in March.
At school, she’s involved in the theater department, three honors society clubs, is on the student council, and a member of her swim team. She is currently taking advanced placement classes for computer science and world history and plans on taking more for the next school year.
“I thankfully do have my mom who is my biggest supporter,” she said. “She helps me on every single thing that I need. She helps me make sure I meet every deadline. She checks everything for me as well. She’s like my manager.”
She is a supporter herself, having three younger sisters – one of which has already been in a pageant too.
While she’s still contemplating what career to go into, she said she is gravitating toward law. She attended a law summer camp in Washington D.C., and takes criminal justice courses.
Although Clinton is anticipating the upcoming pageant, she reminds herself to enjoy the experience and not focus too much on the outcome.
“At the end of the day, at these pageants, a lot of it is just being happy for the connections you’ve made, and being happy for the girl who does win, because you know she deserved it,” she said.