By Dixon Bledsoe 
Ten-year-old Madilyn Burton is ready to grow into “great new things as a young girl.
“Whether it’s helping my football team win the big game or dancing with my friends in the studio, teamwork is what I do best,” Madilyn said in a speech for the 2011 Miss Oregon Junior Pre-Teen State Finalist competition “They say practice makes perfect, but who needs perfect when I can be beautiful me. So watch out Broadway, here comes Madilyn as an actress, singer, and dance, but for now I’ll just be Madi. I am your 2011 Miss Oregon Junior Pre-Teen State Finalist, Madi Burton. Thank you.”
The poised young lady from Butte Creek Elementary School was chosen as fourth runner-up in the National American Miss Oregon pageant in May, and won eight trophies in the process.
Madilyn won a state finalist trophy, fourth runner-up Top Model and Talent, Portfolio, Outstanding Participation, Most Ticket Sales, and Spirit of America. The coup de grace trophy was fourth runner-up for the entire competition, consisting of 50 girls from across the state.
“It was fun and exciting. We learned a lot in just three days, like how to walk on stage, how to hold a microphone, how to give an interview and speaking in front of an audience. I like trying new and exciting things and I want to show other girls like me to keep trying and never give up on their dreams,” Madilyn said about the competition held in Portland.
Wendy Burton entered her daughter in the competition because it teaches girls the skills to build confidence and poise without focusing on beauty. There is a contest rule that the girls cannot wear swimsuits or make-up. Contestants were scored in formal wear modeling, personal introduction, community involvement and interview. The pageant motto is “kids should look like kids.”
Madilyn’s official title is “2011 Miss Silverton Junior Pre-Teen,” and she won a spot on the Queen’s Court. The national pageant is in November in Disneyland.
Wendy Burton confessed she and her husband Mike were reluctant when they heard the word “pageant.”
“But National American Miss is different, and is all about teaching girls skills they will use the rest of their lives. She gave it her all and totally rocked it,” she said.
