EAST LONGMEADOW – Pioneer Valley Performing Arts (PVPA) freshman and East Longmeadow resident Amabelle Houghton was recently crowned Young Miss Massachusetts 2019–2020 and will be heading off to Parsippany, NJ, at the end of the month to compete in the National Finals.

Houghton had not competed in a pageant before – in fact – her decision to enter the competition was spontaneous. Her dream, she shared with Reminder Publishing, is to one day be a fashion designer.

“I thought a pageant would be great runway experience and fun. This pageant organization is particularly modeling-fashion oriented,” Houghton explained.

On a whim, she decided to participate in the pageant. She donned her sister’s sweet 16 dress, an outfit that she wore to her brother’s wedding, and stayed up until midnight on the night prior to the competition practicing her runway walk.

The competition for Young Miss Massachusetts took place at the Sheraton in downtown Springfield on St. Patrick’s Day.

“When I got there it was a little overwhelming, but everyone was so nice it made it a lot easier,” Houghton shared. “There were three events, photogenic is offstage where they look at your headshots, [which were] taken by my best friend Cienna. For the onstage events, first I had runway, a fashion modeling event, then right when I got offstage I had to run to switch into my gown. While walking in my gown they read aloud my answers to questions about myself I answered earlier.”

Houghton said that she didn’t go into the competition with the expectation of winning.

“I was doing this pageant for fun, so right when the runners up were called and I wasn’t one of them my eyes shot right to my sister, Angel, and my air vents closed, I couldn’t even breathe. By the time they announced that I was Miss Massachusetts I was already crying,” she said.

Looking forward to Nationals coming up in a few weeks, Houghton noted there is “a lot more” to prepare for.  In addition to talking to girls with titles from other states that she will have the opportunity to meet at the competition, Houghton has been practicing for her interviews and working on outfits.

 “I’ve been putting together outfits for each event and decided to make and design a couple myself, including for runway and patriotic wear,” Houghton said.

From the competition, Houghton believes that her confidence has been boosted “a ton” and it has taught her to not overthink.

“Amazing things come from spontaneity,” she said.