By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
Already a record-breaking Del Rioan teen, Amaris Leon has her sights set on a bigger prize.
The longest reigning, and youngest, Miss Del Rio Teen in the pageant’s history, Leon is set to leave for Houston later this week to compete in the Miss Texas Teen Pageant. Leon’s friends and family gathered for an official send-off party for the former title-holder.
Leon, who is now a sophomore at Del Rio High School, was a student at Del Rio Middle School when she was first crowned Miss Del Rio Teen in October 2019, the first pageant she ever competed in. Her reign would have lasted until a new title-holder was crowned the following October, but the COVID-19 pandemic that brought much of the world to a slow crawl during that time period extended her time with the crown until a new queen was crowned in January of this year.
Like others who dealt with the challenges of the pandemic, Leon said her approach to her duties as an official ambassador for the city of Del Rio changed to suit the times.
“It was definitely kind of hard not being able to go out into the community and speak with people. Instead, we had to rely on social media to spread awareness to various causes and get things done,” Leon said.
For Leon, that meant finding a new way to aid her quest of ending world hunger. She was able to create a food pantry at Del Rio Middle School to aid her fellow students who may, through no fault of their own, go without a meal over the weekend.
“I knew I had to do something to help, and we were able to help a lot of students,” Leon said, referencing the work of her and her support team. “I worked with a counselor at the school to get it going.”
With students kept from school due to COVID, Leon said she didn’t the food pantry go to waste. She said with help from the counselor she was able to go door-to-door and get food to those students who needed it.
Now her focus is on representing Del Rio at the state level and trying to earn the title of Miss Texas Teen.
“This is a big opportunity for me. I’ve practiced my interview skills and have worked with different coaches to prepare me for this. I’ve also had the chance to work with different pageant queens from Laredo, San Antonio and Houston volunteering in those communities and bringing awareness to causes that need it,” Leon said.
The format Leon will see at the Miss Texas Teen pageant is similar to what she saw in Del Rio to earn Miss Del Rio Teen. There’s the on-stage question, the evening gown competition and the interview with the judges. Those are some of the things Leon will have to navigate, but she said she’s confident with how much she’s prepared.
“It’s very similar to the Miss Del Rio Teen pageant, just on a bigger scale. I’ll be competing against 124 other girls there. Here, there were only five girls I competed against,” Leon said.
“I am a little nervous because this has been a long time coming. It was postponed two times already. But it’s here now and I’m excited that I get the opportunity to get on that stage and represent Del Rio,” Leon added.
Leon won’t be traveling alone. Her parents, Brandy and Sergio Leon, will accompany her as will her siblings including three sisters and a brother. She said her family has been a tremendous help as she preps for the pageant.
“They’ve had a huge impact on me, not just mentally but physically as well. My sisters help with my hair and makeup and even help me pick which outfits to wear,” Leon said. “My mother has worked hard to take me around town to get sponsors to help offset the costs of competing.”
According to Leon, the entry fee for the pageant alone is $1,195. There are additional costs associated with the pageant including purchasing different outfits for the different categories such as athletic wear as well as hiring a professional to do her hair and makeup once they arrive in Houston. “It can be pretty pricey to get into pageants,” Leon said.
Leon is no stranger to competition. A two-time national champion as an All Star Cheerleader, Leon currently competes in the Del Rio High cross-country program and raises Dorper lambs for competition in 4-H. That kind of varied competition has given Leon a positive view as she prepares for one of the biggest events of her young life.
“No matter what obstacles I face I know I will come out stronger than before and I will be able to navigate whatever new obstacles I face going forward,” Leon said.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
