The newly crowned Miss Delaware, Kayla Martell, has been a 4-H’er since she was 5 years old. She credits the skills learned through 4-H with helping her prepare for the future, and face health challenges that might hinder most pageant contestants.
“4-H helped me become comfortable in my own skin so when I was diagnosed with alopecia areata, I didn’t feel like I have to hide the condition,” said Martell.
Alopecia areata is an auto-immune disorder that causes hair loss, and affects more than 4.7 million people in the United States alone.
“Delaware 4-H was where I learned poise and self-confidence,” said Martell. “Sometimes I wear a wig, but sometimes I don’t.”
Kayla Martell appears on the CBS Morning show to discuss alopecia and her Miss Delaware win. Photo courtesy CBS. See her appearance on the show here: http://bit.ly/9xn8AU
Martell competed in support of the National Alopecia Areata Foundation and will continue to support the organization during her reign as Miss Delaware. In 2006, she created a program called Caps for Yaps - Caps for Youth Alopecia Patients. She taught youth how to design and create hats for young people with alopecia. More than 2,000 hats, caps and scarves have since been distributed.
“The mission of 4-H is to be a catalyst for positive change and I can’t think of anyone who epitomizes this better than Kayla Martell,” said Dr. Jan Seitz, associate dean and director of University of Delaware Cooperative Extension. “She is such a force for good in the community.”
Before winning her title as Miss Delaware, Martell devoted more than 2,500 hours of community service to the Health Rocks program, a 4-H curriculum that teaches at-risk youth about the hazards of tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs. She was inspired to become involved in Health Rocks! ® and other Delaware 4-H initiatives combating youth and teens substance abuse by the loss of a childhood friend to a drug overdose. She even started a group in high school called PLEDGE - People Learning to Eliminate Drugs by Gaining Education.
“Kayla’s life has always been about giving to others and serving as mentor and supporter to those in need,” said Seitz. “I cannot think of an individual more suited to be named the new Miss Delaware.”
“4-H provided Kayla with opportunities that not only enhanced her public speaking and communication skills but helped her to develop leadership, citizenship and community service skills,” said her mother, Rhonda Martell.
Martell is currently a student at Marymount University in Arlington, Va., and will take a year off from school to commit to her responsibilities as the new Miss Delaware. On Jan. 15, 2011, she will compete in the Miss America pageant in Las Vegas.