Meet Amayah Moore | 9 Year Old International Junior Miss Jr. Pre-Teen titleholder & Founder of Moore Helping Hands

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amayah Moore and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amayah, what do you attribute your success to?
My parents have been the most important factor and play a significant role in my early success. Their belief in me has pushed me to surpass my limits. They consistently support my dreams and aspirations, and have not once told me no or that my dreams are impossible. As my greatest cheerleaders and advocates, they inspire me to dream big and aim high. I set goals and they are right there to help me achieve them. They make sure I remain committed, work hard, and never give up.They believe that every dream has a starting point, and with my potential, the way I’ll go is up. Together, we pray and trust God’s purpose and plan for my life. I have faith that if I work hard and do my best, God will handle the rest.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When I was younger, I was quite shy and found it difficult to interact with other children. Recognizing my challenges, my parents consulted a Behavior Therapist who suggested play therapy with peers in a structured environment. However, given my love for climbing, jumping and dancing, my parents opted to enroll me in dance and tumbling classes with other children instead. My mother often shares how she was in tears and thanked God when she peaked in and saw me laughing and playing with students during dance class. I was thriving and developing right before her eyes.

At the age of 4, my mother entered me into my first pageant, which supported a Martin Luther King, Jr. scholarship for local youth. She rented my dress, styled my hair in curls that were formed by sponge rollers, applied a little blush to my cheeks and lip gloss to my lips, and sent me onto the stage. Pretty quickly I learned to stop looking into the spotlight, walk across the stage, look out into the audience, and smile big. In that pageant, I was second runner-up. Our excitement stemmed not from my placement but from my bravery in walking on the stage alone, with no preparation other than instructions to walk to each “X” on stage and return back behind the curtain. The experience was so positive that we decided to do another pageant.

In my second pageant there were much more experienced contestants and mommas. Despite that, wearing the same rented dress and following the same routine, I got second runner up, again. We were filled with excitement of my placement, and my mother was convinced I had a natural talent and ease on stage, and she also saw the joys of the prizes and my willingness to share with others. Recognizing my potential, she began researching the pageant industry and taking our involvement and goals more seriously. She connected with a local pageant mother, whose daughter had won multiple pageants, and she provided insights to help us better prepare. My mother gathered additional information online, studied videos, and learned about various pageant systems. Together we practiced my walk, smile, and turns. She would experiment with different hairstyles on me, using both my natural hair and hairpieces, and take photos to see what she liked best. When she felt we were ready to elevate our competition level, she signed me up for a pageant in a nearby town. This time, she purchased a used pageant dress, added an extension ponytail to my hairstyle, and mascara to my lashes, in addition to the blush and lip gloss. After a few months in preparation, we approached the largest pageant with most competitive talented girls that I had participated in, to date. My mother and I always pray before I go on stage, and we call my daddy for the last-minute pep talks. By the grace of God, and all the hard work and hours of practice, not only did I win my 4-6 age division, but I achieved the highest score across all divisions, earning the Mega Supreme title and cash award. My family, including my parents, older sister, and both grandmothers where there to see my progress. It was clear then that pageants would become a part to of our lives. Despite my big win, my mother knew there was so much more to learn, so we begin working with a pageant coach, Miss Deedee who traveled from South Carolina to my town in Georgia and provided us the framework to reach higher.

I continued to compete in scholarship pageants that offered interview, evening gown, and fun fashion. I won several local and state titles, and I’ve also held two national titles, USA Elite Little Miss (UEM) 2021, Miss Elementary America (MEA) 2nd grade 2022; prior to my current title international title of International Junior Miss (IJM) 2023-2024.

IJM is recognized as the IJM “Crown of Opportunities”, distributing over $250,000 in prizes, travels, and cash scholarships. A year before I competed, my parents took me to Orlando over the Thanksgiving holiday to attend and to support friends we’d met over the years through pageantry. The production was mind blowing, the feedback from the competitors about their pageant week and the organization were overwhelmingly positive. I was so impressed by production quality, competition, and the emcees gave the show so much life. Just being there, made me want to be on that stage and compete for the prestigious IJM Intenational Jr. Pre-Teen title. My mother and I dedicated months to pageant preparation. We traveled to train with coaches and met with coaches on zoom for interview practice. My mom and I practiced everything almost daily. She would randomly ask me questions and we’d practice walking often and when my wardrobe was completed, we practiced every other day for two weeks prior to the pageant. This was the most intense my preparation had ever been. I had not competed in over a year while fulfilling my obligation with another organization in which I held a national title, and this would be my very first international pageant. At IJM, I would be with some of the world’s most talented, unique, and intelligent girls from all around the globe. Besides the mandatory competitions—Interview to foster communication skills, Evening Gown to display grace and poise, and Fun Fashion to express unique style—the IJM International pageant also offered optional categories: spokesmodel, talent, fresh face modeling, runway modeling, casual wear modeling, fitness modeling, STEM project submission, brand ambassadorship, media correspondence, actress, and photogenic. Agents are also present to scout talent and conduct onsite call backs to meet with talent of interest. In these optional competitions, I captured the International Overall Dream Model title (a combination of casual wear and photogenic scores). I also won brand ambassador, fresh face, casual wear, achieved first runner-up in STEM and third runner-up in photogenic, and received three call-backs.

The IJM International Pageant took place in Orlando, Florida during Thanksgiving week 2023. Within the first few days, I got sick, as did other competitors. My mother, as she always does, tried everything to help me feel better. When over-the-counter remedies didn’t seem to relieve my symptoms, we visited a minute clinic, where flu and Covid were ruled out. I was prescribed antibiotics before returning to our hotel. I missed two of the callbacks and an activity to get rest. I persevered through nine days of activities, including parties, themed rehearsals and a Doll Ball where barbies and dolls were donated to Toys-for-Tots Christmas campaign. By the time of my interview, I was beginning to feel a little better and felt positive about my time with the judges. The finale arrived. After the opening number dance, I stood smiling with weary eyes, I awaited the announcement of the top 11, hopeful for the chance to continue my journey in the pageant and compete in the finale evening gown and fun fashion mandatory stage events. Hearing my state called filled me with pure joy. Then came the moment to announce the top 5. Waiting patiently as there would be only one more name to be called in Top 5. Georgia was the last name to be called to round out the Top 5. I was so relieved and felt a sense of contentment. We would have a final look before finding out who would be going home with the IJM Crown of Opportunities. I found myself as one of the final two, standing facing each other, hand in hand with my friend from Georgia who was representing Peach State. While the first runner-up was called first, it took a moment to sink in – I had achieved my dream of becoming the International Junior Miss Jr. Pre-Teen. I stepped on stage representing my great state of Georgia, with crown and sash, now representing the world. After my crowning I looked for my mother through the crowd and she was nowhere in sight. She finally came into view and gave me the biggest hug and congratulated me. I asked her where she was earlier, and she said, she ran out of the ballroom and praised God.

Holding the 2023-2024 IJM International Junior Pre-Teen title is an incredible honor and blessing for me and my parents! I have been given the opportunity to represent the IJM organization, literally, around the world. I have traveled to Europe exploring London, Paris, United Kingdom, and also traveled to Belize, which the best part of that trip was having my daddy and sister join my other and I along with my IJM international sister queens and directors. In addition, I’ve traveled to several states throughout the U.S. as part of IJM’s amazing prize package. The organization also finds opportunities for us to give back into the community wherever we go. Under the leadership of Executive International Directors: Mr. Steven and Mrs. Kathleen Mayes and International Director Mrs. Maria-Teresa “MT” Duvall, the scholarship award and prize package, provided by the organization and generous sponsors have been incredibly fulfilling. The organization equips the IJM International Queens with tools and resources to be effective ambassadors and representatives of IJM. I am grateful for the IJM Crown of Opportunities, and the once-in-a-lifetime experiences it has offered me.

Over the years, my mother and I have encountered myths about pageantry, as many parents base their understanding of child pageants on TLC’s ‘Toddlers and Tiaras.’ Pageantry is so much more than the glitz and glamour, more than beauty that meets the eye; Scholarship pageants offer personal development and scholarship opportunities that are often overlooked or misunderstood. I must admit, my mother and I didn’t envision ourselves being involved in pageantry, but it started as a means to support a scholarship for a good cause. As our knowledge and understanding grew, it became something we wanted to be a part of. The girls and young women who compete in scholarship pageants are accomplished, goal-driven, talented and doing great things in their communities. Pageantry has provided me with community support and sisterhood. I’ve developed relationships with families world-wide, received scholarships, travelled globally, raised awareness for my service initiatives, and more importantly I’ve grown in my confidence and developed in life skills. I perform on stage with grace and poise and can walk into an interview with adults who are complete strangers and feel comfortable and speak to them with confidence. I celebrate and uplift other competitors, recognizing that the competition is not against them but with them. Crown or no crown, I consider every pageant a win that enhances my confidence, compassion, and life skills. My mother and I have been able to help others through our experiences, and love to see girls flourish in their efforts.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We’d go to Six Flags over Georgia for some exhilarating rides and fun. My favorite time to go is during the holidays. Halloween and Christmas for all the festive exhibits.

Aquarium to see different sea species.

Blue Ridge Mountains and rent a cabin and go canoeing and hiking

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
God
My parents: Vincent and Kimberly Moore,
My older sister: Kamera Moore,
Grandparents: Grandma Virginia Isom and Grandpa Hosea Isom,
G’mama Gloria Tremble and my late Papa Luther Tremble
GodParents: Wallace and Letitia Isom
Uncle Walter and Aunt Marcia

International Junior Miss (IJM) Executive Directors: Mr. Steven and Mrs. Kathleen Mayes, International Director Mrs. Maria-Teresa “MT” Duvall, International Junior Miss Liaison, Mrs. Lakishia Edwards and the entire IJM International team and IJM International sponsors.

All my family, friends, community, church family, coaches, teachers, instructors, peers. and all my pageant community and social media supporters.

Website: To learn more about International Junior Miss visit: www.internationaljuniormiss.org

Instagram: Personal: @amayahbmoore Pageant: @iam_amayahbmoore Title: @ijminternationaljrpreteen IJM: @internationaljuniormiss

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089037819319

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