When my daughter, Mikayla Gaskell, won the Ms. APEC title along with her partner Salvo - I felt happy and proud as she keeps on soaring high with her confidence, as biased as it may sound, I already knew that she would win as a proud mother I am. She had the positivity to enjoy and have fun during the competition, even if she was nervous about how people would see her, she smiled along the way. 

 

     My favorite portion during the pageant was her talent portion, of course, she shined at every portion, but what captivated everyone and me was her talent portion- her dance. It has always been her passion to dance, I’m very proud of her for showcasing this talent of hers to the audience, her charisma really outshined the other contestants. Especially the hip-hop genre's way of dancing was enchanting, it was different from the other talent portions because most of them were R&B and romantic. 

 

   I’d encourage her to keep on showing the world what she really is, encourage her to positively influence and motivate others, and encourage her to follow the path of her passion. That’s what I want her to do. 

 

    I am so proud of my daughter, I will always be here to support Mikaylla no matter what. I want her to not be afraid to make mistakes. It’s how she will learn and grow, it’s how people develop. Continue dreaming and achieve your goals. I love you, Mikayla. You will always have the best daughter award in my heart.