Speller 87, Aliyah Alpert, it more excited than nervous about being a Finalist – but she’s still pretty nervous.
The Arizona sixth grader said one of her favorite words is “turducken” – but she’s never eaten one. She also likes birds – she hopes to be an avian exotic veterinarian – and is taking flying lessons. She said she loves the “exhilarating feeling when you get off the runway and into the air.”
“I’m normally afraid of heights,” she said, “but not when I’m up there.”
She’s kind of scared of bees, but that didn’t stop Aliyah from wearing a bee dress on stage tonight. Her goal was to get to the Semifinals, but as a Finalist, she may follow in the footsteps of someone who inspires her – 2021 champion Zaila Avant-garde.
“It’s been so much fun,” she said. “I’m so excited to be a Finalist. It means my hard work has paid off.”