Yuma Star Kay-Lanie Lemmon celebrates her new title

Eleven-year-old Kay-Lanie Lemmon may have won the title of Yuma Star Wednesday night, but she still has to do her homework.

"After I do my homework, I'm going to write letters," she said.

Lemmon, a student at Mesquite Elementary School, said her cousin's class wrote her letters to show their support and she intends to write back.

Her school also posted a billboard for her in celebration, she said. "I still can't believe it."

She said that she would like to pursue music in the future though she wants to be an X-ray technician when she grows up.

"My dad is trying to convince me to join American Idol," said Lemmon.

She also said three years of vocal training have helped her conquer stage fright. "I'm used to performing," Lemmon said.

According to Lemmon, it was her mother who encouraged her to enter the Yuma Star competition. Besides winning, she said the best part about the competition was that she "got to meet new people."

Second place was awarded to Melanie Alameda, 14, for her rendition of the standard "Orange Colored Sky." Katie Ballard, 25, won third place for her performance of the soul song, "Natural Woman."


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Erin Orozco can be reached at eorozco@yumasun.com or 539-6849.