45°
But until this past summer, she never showcased her skills in front of pageant judges.
“It was really cool to step into something new and just try it,” the 14-year-old told Daily Voice.
“I want people to know never to be scared to step out of your comfort zone because you never know what will come of it,” she said.
A lot has come of it for Paliotta.
She won the August pageant and earned the title of Miss Ramapo Valley’s Outstanding Teen.
Now the Ridgewood High School freshman is planning to visit schools and speak to other students about her platform – body positivity.
“As a dancer I feel really strongly about it, because a lot of people think that you have to be a certain weight or look a certain way to succeed in that sort of field,” Paliotta said. “And I just don’t think that anybody should ever be judged based on their size.”
Paliotta will be going on to compete for Miss New Jersey’s Outstanding Teen in January.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Wyckoff-Franklin Lakes and receive free news updates.
