A Pella girl has won a statewide pageant award. Marlaina Lightkeeper earned the title of 2022 National American Miss Iowa Pre-Teen at the state pageant held in Des Moines on July 30th. She is the daughter of Elise Pederson and Brad Wilson. Lightkeeper will be attending the National Pageant in Orlando, Florida during Thanksgiving week representing Iowa, where she will have the opportunity to win her share of cash and prizes. The National American Miss Pageants are working to encourage the county’s future leaders, awarding $1.5 million in cash, scholarships, and prizes to recognize and assist the development of young women nationwide. Pageants are held in each state for girls ages four to eighteen in five different age divisions.

In her nomination, Marlaina was described as hard-working, focused and service-oriented. She is an accomplished competitive dancer and has appeared on stage in Ballet Des Moines Nutcracker and in Union Street Players’ performance of Alice in Wonderland. She enjoys art, writing and playing the violin. In her free time, she also volunteers at The Well in Pella. Her future plans include attending the University of Oklahoma –like her grandfather, legendary track and field athlete and coach Randy Wilson, and becoming a Pediatric Oncologist.