Miss Delaware Martell makes it into top 12 finalists

Miss Delaware Kayla Martell participates n the "Show Us Yours Shoes" Parade during the Miss America competition in Las Vegas

Before that, she became only the second Miss Delaware to make it into the top 15 during the first cut.

Martell made the first cut thanks to people voting in the ³America¹s Choice² category through texts, Facebook and YouTube.

"I am so proud of Kayla," her mother, Rhonda Martell, said in a text message sent to The News Journal from Las Vegas. "She was prepared in all phases of competition and is ready to represent Delaware well."

There has never been a Miss USA or Miss America from the First State.

"I¹m praying she makes the swimsuit cut as this is her least favorite part -- parading around in a swimsuit,” Rhonda Martell said before the swimsuit competition.

Kayla was among the top contestants who received the most attention before and during the pageant, as press from around the world were interested in speaking with the 69th Miss Delaware.

“Representing the Diamond State, with our diamonds and our tax-free shopping, a girl just can’t lose,” Martell said while greeting TV viewers tonight.

The 22-year-old Milford native is bald because of alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that caused her to lose her hair at 10. After she lost her hair, she thought she would have to give up her dream to compete as Miss America.

But her parents convinced her that anything was possible and she went on to enter the Miss Delaware pageant five times, competing three times without wigs, two with them.

“You can’t be defined and shouldn’t be defined by your hair,” she said before she left for Vegas.

In recent months, she has raised awareness about the work of the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, a group that represents her pageant platform. Her efforts made her one of eight finalists for a Quality of Life Award, with three scholarships given to contestants for their community service. The top scholarship is $6,000.

Because of her baldness she wore blonde wigs provided by Mario Rispoli, her hairdresser at Salon Rispoli. He said it’s been great to have someone as talented, lovely and poised as Martell represent the First State.

Her talent was a modern ballet en pointe to Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel,” one of her favorite songs.

Before leaving for the pageant a former Miss America told her that the pageant is won before you get there. Miss America meant the girl who goes out feeling confident and comfortable will walk away with the crown.

Martell said she did her most to attain that outlook before she flew from Philadelphia Jan. 6.

“Just getting to go and compete is a dream come true,” she said.