Schools
Crowning Achievement for Helix High Alum: Miss Deaf United States
Former Scottie Kayla LaBruno says she felt "amazing and inspired" when she won pageant in June.
Kayla LaBruno graduated from Helix Charter High School in 2010, but the crowning moment of her young life may have come June 5—when she was named Miss Deaf United States 2011, a title she is simply thrilled to have.
“One word about my experience was exhilarating,” LaBruno said this week via email. “I was thrilled to have this position to be a role model for others, including to inspire others.”
She also took part in this year’s Miss Deaf International event―and ranked in the top 10. She says there aren’t any more pageants in the near future, but she might again compete for the international title in the next couple of years.
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“My friends from Helix HS, they were really surprised,” she said, “and in the same time, they knew I would achieve something big like that.”
As Miss Deaf United States, LaBruno, 19, says she’ll travel all over the country and “represent myself,such as setting workshops for people to focus on self-esteem and to aim for their goal. I also have to get myself involved with different media, especially deaf news.”
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Her goals include selling things that she makes. She hopes to do some acting.
Right now, it’s just about enjoying every moment of her national title.
“When there was a moment that I got crowned (June 18 in Burbank) and walked around to show all the people, I felt amazing and inspired that I can make a change for America, especially for deaf culture,” said LaBruno, who was born without hearing and communicates primarily through sign language.
She says the best part about the experience was getting mentioned in the deaf newspaper and Fashion News Live, a blog that follows celebrity and designer news and trends. She’s also been traveling to different universities to represent herself.
“I have always loved to be involved,” she said.
LaBruno, majoring in zoology, attends Cal State Northridge in the San Fernando Valley—where she entered the Miss Deaf CSUN Pageant in mid-February.
At that event, she displayed her outdoor photos—including some taken on Mount Helix. “These pictures are the faith and beauty in my life,” LaBruno was quoted as saying. “The Mount Helix in San Diego inspires me to keep my heart open.”
The irony: She didn’t win at her own college. The title went to Janel Schmidt, a psychology major.
Updated at 12:35 p.m. Aug. 5, 2011.
