Shining STARS were bright on Saturday afternoon

The annual Shining Stars pageant brought smiles and cheers at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center.

By Jacque Estes
| 12:41 p.m. March 12, 2017

Carolina Preservati' s dress was perfect for the Shining STARS pageant thanks to some special care by grandma. Photo by Jacque Estes

Sammie Firebaugh accompanied herself as she sang "This is My Father' s World" during the Shining STARS pageant. Photo by Jacque Estes

Maria Zirkelbach performs YMCA while contestant John Hearn performs. Photo by Jacque Estes

Kira Lyman, a student at Flagler Beach Montessori, sang "True Colors." Photo by Jacque Estes

Shoshana Ravede dances with the other contestants during the introductory act. Photo by Jacque Estes

Carolina Preservati walks off stage with Miss USA United Nations Tia McDonald. Photo by Jacque Estes

The first group of contestants started the pageant with a group dance. Photo by Jacque Estes

Tia McDonald, Miss USA United Nations, talks with Adam HIll backstage. Photo by Jacque Estes

The Rogers' sisters, Mikenna and MiKayla, pose for photos backstage before the pageant. Photo by Jacque Estes

Jim Ravede shows his daughter Shosana video he has taken of her backstage at the Shining STARS pageant. Photo by Jacque Estes

This is what grandma' s do. Stephanie Yelvington holds her granddaughter Carolina' s gown and crinoline before the show at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center. Photo by Jacque Estes

Maggie Sheppard was so happy to receive her crown. All of the contestants received a crown and gift bag. Photo by Jacque Estes

Courtney Kinnatt is crowned at the Shining STARS pageant. Photo by Jacque Estes

Kira Lyman is crowned by Tia McDonald. Her dad Ryan Lyman escorted Kira on stage. Photo by Jacque Estes

Julianna Cartagena is crowned by her daddy, Otilio. Photo by Jacque Estes

Courtney Kinnatt and two of her biggest fans, dad Riley (left) and brother Collin, pose for photos during intermission. Photo by Jacque Estes

Abigail Whelan and John Hearn accepted their crowns together. Photo by Jacque Estes

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As motorcycles roared down U.S. 1 on Saturday afternoon, Stephanie Yelvington fought the wind to keep the white net crinoline and baby blue evening dress from touching the ground in the parking lot at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center.

The gown was for her granddaughter Carolina Preservati one of nearly 60 contestants participating in the annual Shining STARS Pageant and Fashion Show for those with special needs.

Inside, the center was filled to capacity with family and friends ready for an afternoon of laughter, music and sheer joy. Master of Ceremonies duties were split between the Rev. Stephen Pessah and his son Nathan.

Meet the Shining STARS

Twinkling STARS

Braxton Kashula, Julianna Cartagena, Isabella Ginn, Carolina Preservati, Sammie Firebaugh, Ava Gonzalez, Shoshana Ravede, Kira Lyman, Ashley McMahon, Amelia Walker, Zoe Katz, Skylar Elledge, Kevin Hackerman, MiKenna Rogers, and Mikayla Rogers.

Nova STARS

Kaitlyn Grimes, Rylee Kinnett, Lexi Denk, Angelica Kruse, John Hearn, Abigail Whelan, Arianna Almo, Courtney Widderson, Sarah Laloo, Al Kegle, Courtney Schmitt, Adam Hill, Maggie Sheppard, Lashannda Walker, and Colleen Lawrence.

STARS of the Zodiac

Charity Gallagher, Gregory McDonald, Kristie Chiaravalle, Tommy Fager, Wendy Mayberry, Michael Williams, Allyson Bennett, Mary Kohl, Michael Raupp, John Donado, Elizabeth Eason, Elizabeth Henry, Linda Thomas, Joey Burnside, and Shaun Ciani.

STARS of the Galaxy

Marc DeVito, Scott Morris, Jeanette Sciulara, Deborah Beauchemin, Debra Lee, Samuel Bell, William Duba, Richard Remy, Jule Smith, Ludwell Strader, and Carol Ellis.

Pageant founder Tia McDonald, 23, was crowned Miss USA United Nations in January and attended the pageant wearing her newest sash and tiara. The pageant is now run by Lori Koplin and the city of Ormond Beach Department of Leisure Services and Specialty Population Division.

“In the U.S. I’ve personally raised over $150,000 for people with special needs, in addition, enough funds to purchase five vehicles with hand brakes, hand gas, and lifts,” McDonald said on the Miss USA United Nations website http://bit.ly/2mX0YR1. “I started this program when I was nine years old and have a special place in my heart for empowering children to shine.”

Each star was unique. Some were attending for the first time while others have participated for years.

“We sat in the audience the first year,” Grace Hill said as she watched her son Adam, 32, smile from ear to ear as McDonald talked with him. “We got to talking to other parents at the reception, and he has been part of this ever since.”

The Hill family splits their time between Plymouth, Massachusetts and Ormond Beach and they are always in town for the pageant.

“All of the attention is on him and the others and it’s great,” Grace Hill said. “We have Special Olympics in Massachusetts, but nothing like this.”

When John Hearn “and friends” came on stage to perform YMCA, “The “friends” role was played by Mariah Zirkelbach, who eased herself from her chair in the audience, placed her crutches onto the stage and swung her braced left leg over the apron.

Zirkelbach, a senior at Flagler College, works with Koplin and was recovering from ACL surgery. That didn’t stop her from doing the trademark YMCA song moves as Hearn strummed his guitar and sang.

By the end of the end of the program the glitter on that section of U.S. 1 in Ormond Beach wasn’t the chrome of bikes, it was the sparkle of tiaras and smiles.