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LAPLACE — Robin Abrams believes every mother and daughter should have the opportunity to bond over a beauty pageant. There’s a sentimental spot in her heart filled with memories of adjusting her daughter’s hair and makeup to perfection for her big spotlight moment.

Watching her friend raise a little girl with Down Syndrome, she realized a lot of parents with special needs children were missing that priceless experience. Abrams started the Very Special Miss Louisiana Pageant six years ago to extend opportunities for special needs children and adults, while raising funds for TARC, a nonprofi t group that helps people with disabilities realize their full potential.

The pageant has bloomed since its inception, growing from 15 contestants in its first year to 55 contestants in 2020. There are bigger plans in store, as Abrams hopes other states will pick up their own Very Special pageants and lead the way to a national title.

In the meantime, the crown is helping girls like A’Laysiah Jackson and C’Jea Frank initiate change on a local level, showing communities that people with disabilities can live a life without limits.

A’Laysiah is the 6-year-old daughter of Al Jackson and Tenika Dumas of Vacherie. She has continuously pushed limits of what others believe she can achieve while living with cerebral palsy, epilepsy and other medical conditions resulting in developmental delays.

“When the doctor says there is something she can’t do or may not be able to do, that’s what we focus on so that when we go back to the doctor, she’s doing it. We overcome the odds,” Dumas said.

A’Laysiah has never needed a walker despite having low muscle tone associated with cerebral palsy. She’s able to walk, run, jump and hop.

Doctors expected she would need surgery by age 5 to open her skull, but she hasn’t needed it yet. Like other kindergarten students, she spells and writes her name and builds fine motor skills by using scissors. She loves arts and crafts, and others can’t help but be drawn to her because she’s always smiling.

Pageants became a passion for her before she was old enough to walk. She’s participated in seven or eight in all, but this is the first year she’s won the coveted Very Special Miss Louisiana crown. Like a traditional pageant, Very Special Miss Louisiana awards the big crown in addition to first, second and third runner up. “When she saw she was getting the big crown, her little face lit up,” Dumas said. “She loves this pageant because she sees so many kids that are like her. I think that’s what she doesn’t see enough of. It really helps her because I think she’s more shy without having a sash and a crown. She feels so special with it on.”

A’Laysiah recently passed out “love pops” and headed an arts and crafts booth for homeless children at the Baton Rouge Love Fest for Valentine’s Day. She and her mother plan to reach out to schools and day cares and host other events during her reign. She can be contacted for appearances at aj.jjackson@ yahoo.com. “

I hope it teaches people that a disability does not define your ability,” Dumas said. “You can do whatever you put your mind to. I’m trying to show A’Laysiah she can do what everybody else does, so I don’t give her any boundaries. Everybody is born with a special gift. You just have to find it.” For A’Laysiah, that just might mean fulfilling her dream of becoming a doctor one day.

C’Jea Frank of La- Place has a similar story of resilience and overcoming the odds. This is her second year wearing the Very Special Miss Louisiana crown, and she and her mother, Brandi Frank, are on a mission to connect special needs families in the area with much needed advocates and resources. C’Jea was born with a chromosome deletion that has led to intellectual and developmental delays. She took her first steps while wearing casts up to her hips, to the astonishment of doctors, and she’s been running ever since. Now, her interests include dance classes at Tori Lynn’s Dance School and taking care of her pet bunnies. She takes her chores seriously and always helps around the house.

Brandi Frank saw her daughter truly blossom in 2018, when she first won the Very Special Miss Louisiana crown. This year, she embraced the motions of the pageant like a familiar friend, showing no shyness or hesitation as she waved to the crowd. Once a queen, always a queen.

This year, she also won an award for prettiest eyes. With the crown and sash back in place, her family is ready to bring light to the Very Special Miss Louisiana Pageant and other resources.

“There are many events and resources for special needs children, but the parents don’t know about it unless they are involved in a home healthcare plan. The pageant has introduced us to a lot of different events,” Brandi Frank said. Visibility is an important part of bridging the gap. C’Jea recently represented the Very Special Miss Louisiana Pageant at the Special Needs Population Masquerade Mardi Gras Ball. She appeared in the Krewe of Dagé, the Krewe of M.A.C. and the Krewe of Tohwahpahsah and celebrated her 11^th birthday on Mardi Gras Day.

The family is working to establish more events in the River Parishes, including sensory story times at local libraries. Frank said exposure is essential not only for special needs children, but also for people without disabilities.

“It gives them the opportunity to realize that just because people have special needs, it doesn’t mean something is wrong with them,” Frank said. “Going to events makes them realize that these are people, too. They’ll start to notice the abilities of a special needs person before the disabilities.”