She blew away the competition at S.C. Pageant

Petite pageant queen Emmy Fuller of Fort Mill can add another title to her resume – Little Miss South Carolina.

The rising Sugar Creek Elementary fourth-grader, who has competed in about 10 pageants since her first one three years ago, recently brought home the coveted crown. She also won the talent competition and the color Photogenic award and was first runner-up for the black and white Photogenic award.

Emmy is the daughter of Tony and Jill Fuller.

“As Little Miss South Carolina, I get to do a lot of parades,” said Emmy, 9. “I actually get to meet the governor, Nikki Haley, so I’m pretty excited about that.”

As part of her quest for the crown, Emmy completed over 100 hours of community service, with organizations such as the Ronald McDonald House, the Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child and the Salvation Army. She has also been involved with Fort Mill’s annual endeavor for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer led by another pageant queen, Mrs. South Carolina International 2016, Dana Boutwell.

It’s not all glitz, glitter and travel for Emmy. The pint-sized pageant queen said her favorite undertaking is making meals and cleaning at Ronald McDonald House in Charlotte. The facility houses families of pediatric hospital patients.

“I do love to cook and I do love to clean,” she said.

And that’s not hyperbole.

“She likes to do the work,” said Emmy’s mom, Jill.

Emmy has been involved in dance for the past six years and is also the reigning Petite Miss Dance of South Carolina. She placed sixth this summer at the national pageant for Petite Miss Dance America. She takes lessons at Center Stage Dance Academy in Fort Mill and attended a ballet workshop this summer at Charlotte Ballet Academy.

In addition to her time spent in pageants and dance, Emmy is involved in the Robotics, STEM and Environmental Clubs at school, as well as the Sugar Creek Elementary Choir.

Glitz and glamour aside, Jill said she sees future value in her daughter’s pageant competitions – so much so that a Columbia-based pageant coach trains Emmy on a regular basis.

“As a parent, I feel like the pageants help with overall interview skills,” she said. “That truly is the hardest part.”

“The interview is kind of the most nerve wracking part,” Emmy agreed.

With several titles under her belt, she has no plans to slow down anytime soon. Another pageant competition is coming up and Emmy will walk the stage once again, hoping to add another crown to her growing collection.

This story was originally published August 5, 2016 at 11:02 AM with the headline "She blew away the competition at S.C. Pageant ."