Kirkland’s Lindsey Brown, 12, was recently chosen as a finalist in the National American Miss Washington Pageant, which will be held Aug. 29 at the Hilton Hotel in Bellevue.

Girls ages 4 to 18, divided into five age groups, will compete for a cash award of $1,000, an official crown and banner, a bouquet of roses and a plane ticket to Disneyland to compete in the national pageant.

Dedicated to celebrating America’s greatness and encouraging its future leaders, the National American Miss pageant awards thousands of dollars in scholarships and prizes to young women across the nation each year.

Contestants are evaluated based on “inner beauty, poise, self-confidence, healthy competitive attitudes and achieving personal goals.” The pageants aim to offer an “All-American spirit of fun for family and friends.”

A press release stated Brown was chosen for her family- and community-oriented nature. Her interests include ballet, golf, writing, drawing, skiing, baking and babysitting.

For more information on the National American Miss pageants visit www.namiss.com.