Eleven years ago, Lisa Mathias invited six year old Calahan Moore to attend a pageant for young ladies with special needs, called Miss Amazing. At the time, the pageant was an annual event held at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Irmo. Handing out programs and cheering for the contestants that evening remained a core memory for Calahan.
In recent years, Calahan began participating in pageants through her school. She was named Miss Pleasant Hill Middle School 2022, Miss Freshman Gilbert High School 2023 and Miss Sophomore Gilbert High School 2024. She learned the Miss Amazing pageant stopped during covid and did not return to Irmo. Calahan longed for her peers with special needs to have their own pageant again so she teamed up with her close friend, Mary Scott Handell, and they began planning the Miss Spectacular Pageant, a pageant for young ladies with special needs.
Last Saturday, the first annual Miss Spectacular Pageant was held at the Midlands Technical College Harbison Theatre, and Lisa Mathias was present, volunteering her time and donating her amazing Mathias Sandwiches to support the cause. Two teenagers, seventeen year old Calahan Moore, and fifteen year old Mary Scott Handell, along with incredible support from the community, brought back to Irmo a magical pageant exclusively for young ladies with special needs.
Twenty-four girls participated, free of charge, and every participant received a t-shirt, a crown and a special award. Age group winners also received a sash. The Harbison Theatre was at nearly full capacity with an audience of over 300 people! The love shared amongst all present was immeasurable.
The seed Lisa Mathias planted with Calahan Moore eleven years ago which resulted in bringing back to Irmo a pageant for young ladies with special needs is one of many examples of how the Mathias Family are an irreplaceable asset to the Irmo community.
Photo by Scott Miles. For more visit the link below.
https://www.scottmilesphoto.com/2025-Miss-Spectacular/n-JCPL8B
