Canton girl named Mass. Miss Amazing

Samantha Cohen, a sixth grade student at the Galvin Middle School and the daughter of Elyse and Jonathan Cohen, was named Massachusetts Miss Amazing 2018 at the organization’s annual pageant, held March 24 at Medfield High School. Samantha will travel to Chicago in August to participate in the National Miss Amazing 2018 pageant.

Miss Amazing Samantha Cohen

Massachusetts Miss Amazing was begun in 2013 as a way for girls and young women with disabilities from Massachusetts and Rhode Island to have an opportunity to build self-confidence and social and communication skills. Last month was the first time that Samantha entered a pageant, which is different from traditional beauty and talent pageants.

“It’s not really a competition,” Elyse said. “It’s a community of people.”

Samantha was one of 37 girls and women who arrived at Medfield High School for a full day of activities as well as dinner and the pageant. Each one was paired up with two volunteers. Elyse said that the organizers had a full schedule ready for all the participants. They had arranged for a therapy dog in one room for girls who may have been anxious; another room was set up for hair and makeup; and a third was available for the girls to use to practice for the interview segment. There was also a scavenger hunt taking place in another room.

“It was an awesome day,” Elyse said.

Samantha’s two buddies spent the day with her and sat with her at dinner, along with a young man who escorted her to the stage when the pageant began. Each girl introduced herself to the audience and talked about her interests. During the talent portion, Samantha sang “Let It Go” from the Disney movie Frozen. Later on she walked across the stage in an evening gown. At the conclusion of the pageant, she was named the winner of the Junior Pre-teen Division. She has a sash proclaiming that she is Miss Amazing that she can wear for the next year.

Miss Amazing started in Nebraska in 2007 and is now a nonprofit organization with chapters in 30 states. Hannah Rogan and Chloe Rogan, who are sisters,  got involved with Massachusetts Miss Amazing through their close friend, Lucy Nealon.

“Both my family and the Nealons absolutely fell in love with the mission of Miss Amazing and saw what an impact the day makes on everyone there,” Hannah Rogan said in an email. “The girls and women who participate truly embody the name of the program. They really are amazing!”

“These women are capable of so much, but society puts them into a box that defines them by their disability, so they aren’t given the opportunity to share everything they have to give,” Rogan continued. “Our mission is to break down these walls and give these girls a platform to gain the confidence that they can do whatever they set their minds to. These girls learn that their disability does not define their worth, and they have so much to offer the world. Their kindness, selflessness, and genuine acceptance of everyone around them amazes me every day. If more people were even half as compassionate as these women, the world would be a much better place.”

Elyse Cohen said that their family is thrilled for their daughter and her success. “We’re just so proud,” she said. “It’s just been amazing. All the work we’ve done and therapy and appointments. It’s all been worth it.”

Samantha and her family have set up a fundraising page to help with the costs of the pageant and travel to Chicago. The page, called Sponsor a Queen, can be found at donate.missamazing.org.

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Posted by Mary Ann Price on May 4 2018. Filed under News. Both comments and pings are currently closed.