By Bobby Mathews, sports editor
PELL CITY — Trussville’s Ava Grace Bowen won the age group for 9-year-olds, winning the crown for her division at the Miss Teen Alabama pageant held here.
Bowen has been competing in pageants since she was three years old, her mother, Jennifer Harper Bowen, said. She was graded on her performance, including things like eye contact, smile and poise.
“The best part of winning is probably just how proud I am of my accomplishments,” Bowen said. “I really enjoyed making new friends, being onstage, and doing my best.”
Bowen said she wants to be a medical scientist when she grows up. Part of the pageant process was a 500-word essay where she laid out her plans on how and why she wants to achieve that goal: Bowen wants to research to find a cure for Type I diabetes, which is a condition that affects her mother. She won that portion of the contest, among several others.
In fact, the young woman raised enough funds throughout the month of June 2021 to make a $700 donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
On her way to her crown Bowen won sashes for prettiest hair, best dressed, social media queen and audience favorite.
Ava is the daughter of Brian and Jennifer Bowen. She has one brother, Carson. The Bowens have lived in Trussville for the past 10 years.