PEKIN, IOWA -- Many adults could take a leaf out of 12-year-old Chelsea Lanphier's book.
She juggles seventh grade with friends, sports and activities, and in the meantime, she wins pageant crowns.
Chelsea began with the Jefferson County Little Miss events, and eventually started in pageants with the National America Miss in 2008. She recently took home the title of Miss Hawkeye in the Miss America Co-Ed pageant.
"It's not all about beauty, because it's about inner beauty as well. They want you to be natural. They just want the all-American girl," she said.
Chelsea said she likes doing pageants because it gives her an opportunity to be a role model for her friends and family. Her reading teacher, Dawn Black, says that quality shines through in the classroom.
"You've got to be able to have a heart and think about what it is you want to talk about and feel compassionate about and then show that and definitely Chelsea has that," Black said.
They both agree that pageants are more than about looking pretty. Chelsea has to do individual interviews with pageant judges and give a speech at each event.
"Hearing her talk about the speeches that she has to write and the things she has to be involved with community-wise... it goes way beyond just looking pretty," Black said.
Chelsea also participates in student council, dance, baton and 4H Club, as well as plays softball, baseball and runs track and cross country.
She said she would like to be an elementary school teacher when she grows up.
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