BEMIDJI — Six-year-old Ariana Wright took it into her own hands to raise awareness for the animals at Great River Rescue today.
Living a double life as Little Miss Minnesota Princess provided her the platform to raise $140 for the cats and dogs who have no place to call home.
“I decided to do my fundraiser here to help the animals because they’re super cuddly and cute, I love animals,” Wright said. “(I raised the money) on social media.”
Maggi Fellerman / Bemidji Pioneer
Little Miss Wright, who comes from Shevlin, strolled into Great River Rescue on May 11 with her entourage, crown, sash and the objective of promoting family pet adoptions in the location.
First, she provided Executive Director Brandon Mustful with the money she raised through her fundraising event. The remainder of the time was scheduled to play and fulfill the animals she is figured out to help.
Starting inside the shelter with the kittens, Wright revealed the reason she likes animals a lot and among the incentives behind why she picked to raise funds for a regional animal shelter: “I (have) one pet at home and his name is Pumpkin Pie,” she said. “He’s a really fat baby cat.”
Maggi Fellerman / Bemidji Pioneer
As part of America’s Little Miss Organization, Wright was crowned
Little Miss Minnesota Princess after a competitors kept in April.
With no previous pageant experience, she took home the gold in several classifications consisting of finest dressed, state photogenic, most beautiful hair, diamond award, pinkalicious competitors, state outfit and sportswear.
Maggi Fellerman / Bemidji Pioneer
In August, Wright will sign up with other delegates from throughout the nation at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells to contend in the nationwide competitors for the Little Miss America title.
And as Wright anticipates taking on other delegates from throughout the nation in August for the Little Miss America pageant, in the meantime, she wishes to “play with a lot of cats and a lot of dogs.”
To have a look at the animals who require a location to call home and assistance Wright’s objective, check out the Great River Rescue website at
Maggi Fellerman / Bemidji Pioneer
Maggi is a press reporter at the Bemidji Pioneer concentrating on outside and human interest stories. Raised in Aitkin, Minnesota, Maggi is a graduate of Bemidji State University’s class of 2022 with a degree in Mass Communication.
