|
|
||
Local princess gets royal treatment Date published: 12/8/2009
BY EDIE GROSS
Kimani Smith has been a princess in her own mind for most of her 6 years. So naturally, she was thrilled to have that notion confirmed on national television last month by none other than talk show host Tyra Banks and the newest member of Disney's royal family, Princess Tiana. The first-grader at Stafford County's Falmouth Elementary School is still getting her head around the royal treatment she got from Banks, an actress and executive producer of "America's Next Top Model" who surprised Kimani and two other little girls with a four-day trip to Disney World. "It was the trip of a lifetime," said Kimani's mom, Chante Smith. "It was a whirlwind." The adventure began when Smith noticed that "The Tyra Banks Show" was working on an episode about Tiana, Disney's first African-American princess and the star of "The Princess and the Frog," which hits theaters this week. The show put out a call for little girls who love princesses. "I said, 'OK, that's my daughter,'" Smith said. "She's all princessy." Smith sent them a note about Kimani, who says she's loved princesses "maybe forever" because they're pretty, wear fancy dresses and help people. Within days, Smith got a call from one of the show's representatives, inviting her and Kimani to New York for a taping. It was the first time the two had ever taken a mother-daughter trip. It was also Kimani's first excursion to the Big Apple--and her first time riding a train. "It was a really, really long ride," Kimani said of the three-hour journey. "But we had snacks on the train, because you've gotta eat on the train." A DISNEY SURPRISE In New York, Kimani hailed her first cab, gazed up at the tall buildings and spent some quality time at the Toys "R" Us in Times Square. "They had a big, tall dinosaur, a Barbie house and a merry-go-round," she said. "We went into the Barbie house and saw a lot of Barbies." At the taping on Nov. 17, Banks talked about the beauty of diversity and what Princess Tiana--the ninth Disney princess--could mean to young African-American girls. Kimani, who has occasionally donned a blond wig while dressing up as Cinderella, said it's nice to see a princess who resembles her.
Read more stories about Fredericksburg Date published: 12/8/2009
1. Be respectful. No personal attacks.
|
|
|||||||||||||||
