Local girl to appear on ‘Toddlers & Tiaras' on Wednesday

Local 8-year-old Jacy LeGrand will appear in an episode of TLC's "Toddlers & Tiaras" scheduled to air at 9 p.m. Wednesday.

According to her mother, Gina LeGrand, Jacy is in many of the promotions for the current season.

"It's made us a little bit more popular in the pageant world," Jacy said. "Everybody watches the show and a lot of girls will see it."

The LeGrands received a call from "Toddlers & Tiaras" in November asking Jacy to submit an audition tape, Gina LeGrand said. The show's producers noticed Jacy a month earlier while taping at the pageant "Disco Diamonds," presented by Beautiful Me in Springfield, Mo.

In early December, a camera crew came to Cape Girardeau to tape at the LeGrands' home and around town. According to Gina LeGrand, the crews filmed for two days. She said these days were busy and the crew interviewed everyone in the family.

"We were miked-up the entire time," she said.

Jacy said the crews filmed her trying on her crowns and outfits. They also followed them to activities such as a modeling lesson and a photo shoot.

"It was really fun," Jacy said.

The crews later followed the family to the "Wild Wild West Show Down" pageant Dec. 10 in Indianapolis.

"They filmed us from the time we pulled up until late that night," Gina LeGrand said. "It was stressful, but worth it."

LeGrand said it was hard to get things done on time while being taped. For example, Jacy missed one of the pageant lineups due to filming, but LeGrand said this did not count against Jacy's final score.

"It shook her nerves up pretty bad," LeGrand said.

According to LeGrand, Jacy was the center of attention at the pageant while crews were filming.

"I felt like pretty much the ruler of the entire thing," Jacy said.

Because the show has not aired yet, LeGrand didn't want to ruin the outcome of the pageant, but she said Jacy did come away with some awards.

LeGrand is happy with the way the taping turned out, but said, since it is a reality show, the producers will arrange the film the way they want it to look.

"I am sure they will make it as dramatic as they can," LeGrand said. "We will see."

Despite what the show's producers might choose to portray, LeGrand said normally the participants in the pageants are a good group of girls.

"Ninety-nine percent of the time they are girls who are well mannered," LeGrand said. "They are doing what they love to do."

After taping for the show, Jacy took a break from pageants, but she did participate in the Midwest Beautiful Me Productions Missouri Open State Finals this weekend in Sikeston, Mo.

"We've been going heavy on that," Gina LeGrand said.

Jacy also did a photo shoot for Rhodes 101 and made an appearance April 13 at the Sephora in West Park Mall for their one-year anniversary.

She will next participate in Circle City Beauty Pageants' Stars & Guitars Nationals on May 4 through 6 in Indianapolis.

ajones@semissourian.com

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