Two Kelseys represent Houston County well at pageant

Warner Robins is sending not one but two Kelseys to the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen pageant.

Kelsey Norris, who served as a Princess to Miss Houston County’s Outstanding Teen Kelsey Hollis at the Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen pageant last week, has been selected to serve as a National Princess at the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen pageant to be held in Orlando in August.

Kelsey Norris also served as Kelsey Hollis’ princess last year. Kelsey Hollis finished in the top five last year and was crowned Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen this year.

Kelsey Norris, an upcoming sixth-grader at Bonaire Middle School, was the perfect fit for Kelsey Hollis — whose platform is autism awareness. Kelsey Norris has autism.

Born in Russia, Kelsey was adopted by Carol Norris from an orphanage when she was 11 months old. Kelsey was severely malnourished and at 11 months weighed only 11 pounds. After bringing Kelsey back to the United States, she has thrived in a number of activities including swimming, gymnastics and cheerleading.

And pageants. Kelsey is a pageant queen in her own right. She has won about 50 titles and awards at pageants.

During her week at the Miss Georgia pageant, Kelsey helped Kelsey Hollis in various ways and attended a Pajama Party with Kelsey Hollis, where they had snacks and made crowns. She also accompanied Kelsey Hollis on the stage during the competition.

Every night, Kelsey Norris did one other thing for Kelsey Hollis

“I prayed for her before I went to sleep,” said Kelsey Norris, who was sitting in the audience cheering when Kelsey Hollis was announced the winner.

At Miss America’s Outstanding Teen pageant, Kelsey Norris will be attending the princess training camp that will include opportunities to be introduced on-stage during the preliminary evening wear/on-stage question competition. She also will have the chance to perform on stage twice during the week and to spend time with Warner Robins’ own Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell.

But it won’t be all fun for Kelsey Norris. There is a little work involved too.

She also will be competing for a “Princess in Action” award that recognizes the princess with the most successful community service platform. Kelsey’s platform is “Special Needs Means Special Abilities,” and she is involved in numerous activities to promote that individuals with special needs can make a positive difference in the lives of others.

“I can do anything that anybody else can do,” Kelsey Norris said.

Maybe more.

She collects canned goods for the Backpack Buddies program, which provides nutritious snacks to low income children every weekend. She collects pet food for the Flint Humane Society and is the Houston County coordinator for the Adventure Bags program, which provides prepared bags with everything from jackets to notebooks to children in crisis who have to be moved quickly by DFACS.

Just like the contestants in the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen competition, Kelsey is collecting money for the Children’s Miracle Network.

You can help Kelsey Norris raise funds for the Children’s Miracle Network. Go to Helpmakemiracles.org and search for Kelsey’s name in the participant’s tab.

This story was originally published June 26, 2016 at 3:00 PM with the headline "Two Kelseys represent Houston County well at pageant."