Seaford teen enters National Miss pageant

Seaford’s Ashley Blum, 13, is participating in the National American Miss pageant again this year — this time in the New York Junior Teen Division. Last year, Ashley was a finalist for the title of Miss Pre-Teen New York, which earned her a spot at the national competition in Disneyland in November. She also received a $1,000 cash prize and was named first runner-up in the Miss Personality segment.

This year, Ashley will compete on August 12 and 13, at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick, NJ. in multiple categories, including: talent, formal and casual-wear modeling, a personal introduction, an interview, academic achievement and a community service project.

Her project this year is “Candy Cups for Kids with Cancer” to raise funds for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Ashley‘s dad died two years ago after an 11-year battle with cancer, so this is a topic very close to her heart.

The goal of the National American Miss (NAM) Pageant is to “grow confidence and teach real world,” according to its website. “NAM is a program based on the foundational principle of fostering positive self-image by enhancing natural beauty within. . . it is a program designed for today’s girl.”

Ashley will enter MacArthur High School in Levittown this Fall, as a member of the National Junior Honor Society as well as the Tri-M Music Honor Society. She loves musical theater and just played the lead role of Fiona in the Salk Middle School performance of Shrek. She received the President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement and the Triple C award for Courage, Character and Commitment at middle school graduation. She has her sights set on a future career in medicine.