Most little girls dream of being a princess wearing a beautiful dress and riding in a parade. For one Chico teen, however, wearing the Miss Teen Butte County crown was more about serving her community than the crown. Reporter Rick Carhart has her story in tonight's Kids In Action.
nats golf
Danielle Hart is a busy teenager. She's a member of the Pleasant Valley High School golf team...
nats singing
She sings and performs in community theater...
nats goats
And she raises goats for sale at the Silver Dollar and Butte County Fairs. And it was at the Butte County Fair that Danielle decided to add something else to her already full schedule.
Danielle says, "I don't really know why I wanted to do it, I didn't know much about it, but I knew I wanted to do it with my friend, and it turned out to be a great idea."
Danielle's Dad Roger says, "when they announced her name as winner we were absolutely stunned but so proud of her accomplishment."
When Danielle was crowned "Miss Teen Butte County" last August, she found out it was a big commitment.
Roger says, "you never knew how many parades there were in Butte County until you entered this contest."
But it wasn't the glitz and glamor that appealed to this 16-year-old.
Danielle says, "we do a lot of parades, which counts as community service to them, to me I actually like working and getting down and dirty."
For several years, the Hart family have traveled to Ensenada on a mission trip to an orphanage.
Roger says, "I think that's really touched her heart and I think she has gotten that spirit of trying to help people in need."
And she appreciates the opportunities she and her fellow royal court members have had, highlighted by a trip to the state capitol hosted by Senator Doug LaMalfa. But she never forgets the reason she signed up.
Danielle says, "I want to show that especially teens my age, that we can make a difference."
Something that makes her Dad smile.
Roger says, "just very proud of a wonderful girl who's very accomplished and has her heart in the right place."
