Former Miss Monroe County princess steps into modeling world
A former Miss Monroe County princess has taken steps beyond the local stage to seek out opportunities in modeling, acting and vocal performance.
Giavanna “Gia” Brooklyn Butler of Monroe was Tiny Miss Monroe County Princess 2016. As part of her year on the Miss Monroe County court, she was among the princesses at Miss Michigan 2017.
Both the Miss Monroe County and Miss Michigan programs are part of the Miss America Organization; the local princess court members often accompany the Miss and teen titleholders to parades and events.
Now 10, Giavanna, who is the daughter of Khari Desilvis, has started to participate in International Models and Talent Association programs.
She competed Jan. 4-8 at an IMTA convention in Orlando, Fla., one of the events that the organization hosts every year to help introduce new faces to talent agents, managers and producers in the fashion and entertainment industries.
Desilvis said her daughter entered a variety of categories in the female pre-teen division for photography, modeling and screentest.
Her awards at the convention included first in “kidspot” and second runner-up in actor of the year.
“She was able to meet with different agencies who are interested in signing her and getting her to work as a model and actress,” Desilvis added.
While at IMTA, Giavanna gave credit to the Miss Monroe County program, Haja Dance Company, Selina and Kyle Molter, and Viva Dance Company in helping her get experience on stage.
“She immediately fell in love” with performance during her year as a Miss Monroe County princess, her mother said. Now she’s participated in several years of dance lessons.
The next step, based on advice they were given at IMTA, is voice lessons. Overall, Desilvis said, the experience has given her daughter a sense of confidence.
As with many other activities during a year of COVID-19 restrictions, the IMTA meetings faced delays and reformatting. Desilvis said the January convention was originally scheduled for July in New York City.
Giavanna worked on several fundraisers to pay for expenses so that she and her mother could drive to Orlando for the convention; area businesses were among those making donations.
Desilvis said Giavanna’s goal is to become a model and actress and also run her own business.
She’s in fifth grade taking virtual school, where her favorite subjects are science and history. She loves to work on hairstyles and her favorite toys include dolls.
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