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Layla June Peavey is the daughter of Dana and Jonathan Peavey. Since she was 10 months old, Layla has participated in almost 20 pageants, and has won nearly 10 titles. While some may think this means she has spent several years in the circuit, that isn’t the case with Layla. Layla is only two years old.

One look at Layla can explain the amount of winning she has done. Her blonde hair and sassy smile could make anyone’s heart melt. However, what truly sets Layla apart from the rest is her natural desire to entertain people.
Dana said of her daughter, “When she gets up on stage, you never know what she is going to do.” Some of her most popular poses include the “Shirley Temple,” “Sleeping Beauty,” a “sassy walk” and her “surprise” face.

Layla Peavey is seen with her father, Jonathan Peavey during the Think Pink pageant.

The Peavey parents have never forced Layla to be in pageants. “She enjoys them so much. Every step of the pageant process she enjoys. She loves getting all dolled up and then going out in front of people and making them laugh or clap,” stated Dana. When asked if she enjoyed pageants, Layla said, “They’re awesome.”

At two years old, Layla has already been featured in Pageantry Magazine. She will also be seen on an upcoming episode of Toddlers and Tiaras, for her performance in the Sugar Plum Fairy pageant. Layla’s footage from the episode was also seen on Good Morning America as a highlight to the season premier. She has also been featured in several newspapers, both locally and statewide.

Layla has competed in several local pageants including Tiny Miss Madison and Infant Miss Madison. She also competes in Valdosta, Cordell and Panama City. Layla also took home fifth place in her first nation pageant, Orlando Citrus, where she competed for Little Miss Citrus. Michael Galones, host of the show Little Miss Perfect on WeTV, put on the Orlando Citrus pageant.

While children in pageants are often given a stigma, the Peavey family does not fit into that category. Dana explained, “Layla loves doing it. If she didn’t enjoy it, we wouldn’t want her to do it. For right now, it is fun to her. As soon as it stops being fun, she will stop doing pageants. I don’t want pageants to be a job for her. I have seen parents, even at local pageants; seriously get onto their kids for not doing this pose or that face on stage. That really makes me mad, because at that point it isn’t being done for the kids; it’s for the parents.”

As for funny things that have happened on stage, “We are in the middle of potty training. Layla never acts out on stage or makes a fuss. But on this particular day she went out on stage with her daddy and started to panic. We could not figure out what was going on. Once she got off stage, she said ‘I have to go.’ Lesson learned; she needs to use the bathroom before going on stage.”

Layla is the second youngest of four children. She has two twin older sisters, Rachael and Nadine, who are seven years old. She also has one younger sister, Pepper Lynn, who is one year old. “At home she is surrounded by girls and girly things. She loves anything that sparkles and she loves pink. I think that there is now this reverse sexism that if a girl does anything overtly girly then she is stigmatized. If a boy goes out and shoots an animal with a gun or dresses up in camo, that is fine. But if a girl dresses up in a lot of pink or gets all dolled up, then something is wrong. It isn’t fair,” said Dana

Layla currently holds the titles of Tiny Miss Snowflake Queen, Tiny Miss Think Pink Queen, Tiny Miss Pearl of the Panhandle, Teeny Miss Autumn Apple, Teeny Miss Florida Capitol and Tiny Miss Madison County.  She was also Infant Miss Madison County, Baby Miss Winter Wonderland and Tiny Miss Summer Sweetheart.

Another title that Layla currently holds is Miss Heart of America Leon County Queen. This pageant is community service based and they expect their queens to be very involved with their local communities. So, any directors who are planning activities or festivals in Madison, and would like Layla to make an appearance, she would love to help. “She will help as much as a two year old can, whether it is handing out water at Relay for Life or simply showing up and seeing people, she would love to help.”

Also, if anyone in the community is interested in sponsoring Layla for upcoming pageants that would be greatly appreciated. Dana has recently been laid off and their financial situation is tight.

If you or someone you know is interested in sponsoring Layla or having her show up for an event please contact Dana Peavey at (850) 464-9339.