Clarksburg, WV -
"I've won Miss Morgantown's Outstanding Teen and Miss Southern West Virginia Outstanding Teen," said Krystian Leonard.
Leonard's pageant platform is unique and very personal.
"I was born with a lymphoma growth on my leg, and the doctors decided to remove it because it was growing faster than I was," she said. "So when they removed it, it left me with a nine-inch scar on my leg."
She endured bullying, teasing, and kids calling her scar "Frankenstein" growing up. So, she created "Shining Scars." It's a nonprofit to help other kids accept and even be proud of the marks their injuries left behind.
"I have gone to several elementary schools, and middle schools and I also go to the WVU hospital in Morgantown; I make regular visits there," she said.
Krystian even wrote her own book about a little star named "Eugene" who accidentally flies into the moon and gets a bump on his head.
"I read to the kids my children's book, or I play games with them and I talk to them about their scars. And most of them, they really think after I leave, 'Wow, my scar is really cool!'"
And standing by her side through it all is Krystian's mom, Karime.
"I just wanted to encourage her and help her to vocalize that part of herself so she can hopefully help other kids," said Karime.
Karime is helping encourage Krystian every step of the way, from creating her non profit to finding a book publisher.
"I want her to be everything that she wants to be," she said. "I want to help her achieve her dreams, and she's dreaming very big right now, so I'm just trying to keep up as a mom!"
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