Forsyth County girl crowned Little Miss Georgia, heads to national pageant

Sonya Caesar turned a local stage into a state crown for Forsyth County, then took that momentum toward the national pageant stage. The City of Cumming formally recognized the Whitlow Elementary School third grader on June 17, 2025, after she was named Little Miss Georgia 2025, and city officials said she had already earned “numerous recognitions for leadership and service.”

Her hometown celebration came with a clear send-off. Mayor Troy Brumbalow encouraged the community to support Sonya as she prepared to compete for the title of National Little Miss America in Las Vegas from July 11-13, 2025. Sonya’s parents and sister attended the proclamation ceremony, underscoring how closely her pageant run was tied to family and community pride in Cumming.

American Pageants Inc. says Sonya is 9 years old and from Cumming, and that her pageant journey began when she served as a Miss Georgia Belle under her mentor, Audrey Kittila, who was Miss Georgia 2025. The connection between the two Georgia titleholders gave Sonya a local path to follow as she moved from community recognition to a bigger spotlight.

Her platform also reflected the kind of service that resonates beyond a sash and crown. American Pageants Inc. says Sonya volunteered at the Roswell Nursing and Rehab Facility and the Humane Society of Forsyth County, and hosted lemonade stands whose proceeds went to cancer research in memory of her uncle. Those efforts tied her public role to hands-on work in the community, from helping older residents in Roswell to supporting animals in Forsyth County and raising money for a cause shaped by family loss.

For Cumming and Forsyth County, Sonya’s win was more than a pageant result. It put a local child, a Whitlow Elementary student, and a young volunteer with deep community ties on a national stage, carrying hometown pride from the city proclamation into Las Vegas.