Every Child Can Shine!
Because Every Child Deserves the Opportunity to Shine
At Pennsylvania Cinderella, we believe confidence, friendship, and personal growth should be available to everyone. The Cinderella Exceptional Program provides children and young adults with exceptional needs the opportunity to experience the excitement of Cinderella in a supportive, encouraging, and welcoming environment.
Every participant is celebrated for who they are and what they accomplish. Our goal is simple: to help every child leave feeling confident, successful, and proud.
Who Can Participate?
The Exceptional Program is open to participants with developmental, intellectual, physical, or other exceptional needs who would benefit from a modified pageant experience.
Every child is unique. If you are unsure whether this division is the right fit, we encourage you to contact us. We are happy to discuss your child's individual needs and answer any questions.
What Can We Expect?
Just like every Cinderella event, the focus is on having fun, making friends, and celebrating each participant.
Depending on the participant, events may include:
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Casual Wear Modeling
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Party Wear Modeling
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Interview or Personality
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Optional Talent
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Recognition Ceremony
Parents or caregivers are welcome to assist participants whenever needed.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is this a competition?
Every participant is recognized and celebrated for their accomplishments. While awards are presented, the focus is on participation, confidence, and personal achievement rather than comparison.
Can my child receive accommodations?
Absolutely.
We understand that every participant has different strengths and needs. We work closely with families to provide reasonable accommodations whenever possible so that every participant can enjoy a positive experience.
What if my child needs assistance on stage?
That's perfectly okay.
Parents, caregivers, siblings, or volunteers may assist participants whenever needed. Our goal is to create an environment where every participant feels comfortable and successful.
Is previous pageant experience required?
Not at all!
Many participants are experiencing their very first pageant. Our volunteers and directors are there to guide families every step of the way.
How do I know if this is right for my child?
If your child enjoys dressing up, meeting new friends, performing, or simply being celebrated for who they are, this program may be a wonderful fit.
If you have questions, we'd love to talk with you before you register.
Our Promise
At Cinderella, every participant is welcomed with kindness, celebrated for their individuality, and encouraged to become the very best version of themselves.
Because every child deserves a chance to shine.
Why This Program Matters to Us
Why This Program Matters to Us
The idea for Every Child Can Shine is deeply personal.
Our family's Cinderella journey began because of my daughter, Phoebe, who has Down syndrome.
When Phoebe was just a newborn, I happened to be watching a pageant program on television. During the show, a mother shared that she had always dreamed of having a daughter to compete in pageants, but when her daughter was born, she thought she was "ugly" and looked like she had Down syndrome. As the mother of a brand-new baby with Down syndrome, those words were heartbreaking.
Instead of allowing that moment to define what the future could look like for my daughters, I immediately searched for a local pageant and entered both Phoebe and her older sister, Maggie.
From the very beginning, we fell in love with Cinderella. More importantly, Cinderella welcomed both of my girls exactly as they were.
Phoebe has grown up in this program, and we've always done Cinderella her way. Along the way, she has built lifelong friendships with girls who have accepted her just as she is. She has grown in confidence, developed poise on stage, and become more comfortable communicating with adults—all while simply being herself.
As much as I have loved watching Cinderella embrace Phoebe, I have also loved watching the girls of Cinderella grow because of Phoebe. They have learned compassion, acceptance, patience, and the value of celebrating everyone's unique gifts.
To me, that is what inclusion is all about.
Today, the Cinderella Exceptional Program is built on a simple belief:
Every participant deserves to be seen, celebrated, and encouraged to become the very best version of themselves.
Whether a participant takes the stage independently, with the support of a parent, or with accommodations tailored to their individual needs, they are welcomed as an important part of the Cinderella family.
We know that stepping onto the stage can be a big moment—for participants and for parents. Our hope is that every family leaves knowing their child was celebrated, their accomplishments were recognized, and that they truly belong here.
Because at Pennsylvania Cinderella, every child can shine.