'Cover Girl' wins chance to compete in California

Five-year-old Alexandria Diane Murillo of McCook won the title of “Cover Girl” during the National American Miss (NAM) Pageant in Omaha June 7-9. She also won the art contest, the actress competition and the “Spirit of America” award, and was fourth runner-up in casual wear and the photogenic division. Alexandria is the daughter of Olivia Cappel, who also competed in NAM pageants starting when she was 10 years old, from 2005 through 2012.

Courtesy photo

McCOOK, Neb. — At the Nebraska competition of “National American Miss” June 7-9 in Omaha, a 5-year-old McCook girl won the title of “Cover Girl” and the chance to compete in the national pageant in Hollywood, Calif., in November.

Alexandria Diane Murillo came home from Omaha with a crown, a sash, a trophy and roses from the pageant in which she also won the art and actress competitions and the “Spirit of America” award, and placed fourth runner-up in casual wear and photogenic qualities.

Alexandria is the daughter of Olivia Cappel and Gilberto Murillo of McCook and the granddaughter of Chris Cappel of McCook and Maria and Greg Murillo of Imperial.

“This was Alexandria’s first pageant,” Olivia said. “She worked very hard. We were all surprised that she did so well in her first competition.”

Olivia said that girls in the National American Miss pageant have been nominated, and accepted by pageant officials based upon community involvement, community service and academics. “It’s not a beauty pageant,” Olivia said. “In fact, little girls Alexandria’s age are not allowed to wear make-up. The pageant doesn’t want the girls to look like ‘mini-adults’.”

The National American Miss website indicates that the NAM pageant focuses on growing a girl’s confidence, teaching her life-long skills such as interviewing, public speaking and presenting herself in front of an audience, and helping her gain a competitive edge to succeed in whatever fields she may choose in her future.

Contestants are awarded $1.5 million dollars each year through cash scholarships and prizes.

Olivia said that Alexandria has been interested in modeling and acting since she was about 2 years old. “We watch a movie, and Alexandria re-enacts scenes, especially scenes from her favorite musicals,” she said. Alexandria piped up, with a smile, “I want to do what they do.”

Olivia said that Alexandria worked hard on her pageant acting competition presentation, which was a “commercial” for Disneyland. “She practiced for months and months,” Olivia said. “She was a little hoarse during the weekend, so her voice wasn’t as high as it should have been. We were surprised she won the acting competition.”

Olivia explained that her daughter works for brand products, modeling them on her website, and she hopes to be selected as a spokesperson/model for a national toy brand.

For the state competition, Alexandria sold advertising to local businesses whose business cards then appeared in the state pageant program. She will do the same for the national pageant, Olivia said. Olivia also plans fundraisers to help defray the cost of pageant and travel expenses. The entry fee for the pageant is $950, she said.

Alexandria will be a kindergartner this fall, home-schooled by her mother. “Homeschooling will provide a wonderful, Christian-based foundation,” Olivia said. She said, too, that homeschooling will also allow flexible scheduling to accommodate Alexandria’s future pageant, modeling and acting opportunities.