“I’ve changed a lot,” said Vanya Shivashankar, speller 90, after she watched a video montage of herself growing up at the spelling bee. The 13-year-old Kansas eighth grader had been coming to the bee since her sister first competed, in 2006. Vanya was four.
Kavya went on to win the 2009 championship. Now in her fifth bee, this is Vanya’s last chance to take the top prize.
“I don’t like to put any pressure on myself,” she said. “I just want to have fun. Relax.”
Vanya won the Lifetime show ‘Child Genius’ earlier this year, and said her experience in the spelling bee helped her in that competition.
For now, though, she’s focusing on enjoying her final spelling bee as a competitor.
“It’s really exciting; I’m so happy to be back,” she said of becoming a finalist. “I’m going to miss it so much.”