Jason Futch
Live Oak’s own Kennedy Kafka, age 6, has been awarded the title of Reigning American Little Miss Florida and will be competing for the national title of Reigning American Miss starting Thursday, July 9. Over three days, Kafka will join others from across the country to compete in multiple categories for the national title.
The Reigning American Miss is a national scholarship pageant that emphasizes academic achievements and community service. To exemplify this, each contestant is required to meet the pageant's mission: respect, achievement and mission, or R.A.M. Each contestant has a monthly community service project, which accounts for 10% of the pageant results being held in Fernandina Beach.
For Kafka’s project, she began “Kennedy’s Call to Service,” created to support first responders. Her biggest inspiration for the project is her father, Kerner Kafka, a firefighter with the Live Oak Fire Department. The project acknowledges the work first responders do every day, rewarding them with snack baskets and donating books and toys for children on calls. She also “high-fives a hero,” where Kafka sends thank-you cards, notes of encouragement, and other fun notes to responders throughout Suwannee County.
Kafka has also organized a diaper drive to help supply mothers with diapers for newborns and babies born prematurely. The diapers will be distributed to mothers in Georgia, Florida and South Carolina. To purchase a box of diapers for the drive, scan the QR code accompanying this article. Sealed packages of diapers can also be dropped off at the Live Oak Fire Department, located at 200 N.E. Duval St. 
Kafka is the daughter of Kerner and Kylie Kafka and a kindergarten student in Ms. Fleming’s class at Suwannee Riverside Elementary. Former Miss United States Lindsey Langston is currently coaching her. Kafka proudly credits her “big sisters,” Stephanie and Calloway, as well as Langston, as important mentors who hold a special place in her heart.
Along with community service, Kafka and the other contestants will be judged on a private interview, beauty/evening gown, and fun fashion.
While Kafka said winning would be nice, whether she wins or loses, the most important takeaway from the event is “learning and growing.”