AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – It all started as a school project for a former Evans High School student, but the event grew into something bigger.

People filled the auditorium of the Augusta Kroc Center Saturday evening for a pageant show. “Miss Georgia Rose” consisted of 18 young girls with disabilities.

The host and coordinator for the show,  Paige Blanchard says she doesn’t ask the contestants about their disability when registering them because she believes they are all equal.

“It shouldn’t matter what they look like, their age or what kind of disability they have,” said Blanchard. “They are all capable of doing this. With this, I think everyone is equal. They all get the exact same thing.”

The soon to be graduate from Georgia Academy came up with the idea about three years ago when she was a senior at Evans High School.

What she thought was going to be a major part of her graduating, ended up becoming something bigger.

I did this as my senior project in high school and I decided I want to redo it just from form love of having it, explained the coordinator.

Each contestant of the beauty pageant came out as winners.They all received crowns and stashes, and edited photos of each part of the event.

Blanchard says she will continue making the pageant better for the girls every year.

“I’m hoping in the next couple of years this gets bigger and bigger,” said Blanchard

All of the proceeds from Miss Georgia Rose will go to the miracle league of Augusta.