Ciara Diaz won the Miss South Florida Teen category in the Miss America pageant circuit.
Ciara, 16, was one of three teen titlists in the competition held March 16 at the Seminole Theatre in Homestead.
To earn her crown, Ciara had to earn points through interviews with a judge, and tests that included answering a question while on stage, demonstrating fitness and lifestyle, talent and eveningwear, the Miss South Florida Scholarship Foundation said.
She will be eligible to enter the state teen competition in Lakeland in June, the foundation said.
A competitive dancer, Ciara has studied at Intensity Dancers Studio for 13 years, as well as in the pre-professional program at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York, the Grand Premier program in Arizona and with Cirque du Soleil’s program in Las Vegas, her mother Yenny Diaz said.
A 10th grader at New World School of the Arts, Ciara was previously enrolled at Mater Lakes Academy where she participated in district mock trials, according to her mother.
Ciara lives in the Country Club community with her mother, father Edward Diaz and brother Liam Diaz.