A 6-year-old girl will become the youngest contestant ever in the Scripps National Spelling Bee after winning a regional competition in Virginia.
Lori Anne Madison, of Woodbridge, Virginia, won the Prince William County spelling contest last week, beating out 21 top elementary and middle school competitors. Her winning word: "vaquero," a word of Spanish origin meaning cowboy.
"My parents quiz me. I read lists and I have a really good memory," Madison, who is home-schooled, told Fox's WTTG-TV.
Her mother, Sorina Vlaicu Madison, told insidenova.com that her daughter had also practiced that word specifically.
“We really insisted on that word so I knew for sure she would nail it,” she said.
Madison was believed to be the youngest competitor ever, the Cincinnati-based National Spelling Bee said on Tuesday. Based on incomplete records, the previous youngest contestant was 8, it said.
The spelling contest has been held since 1925. This year's event will be held May 29 to June 1 in Washington with 277 spellers from the United States, U.S. territories and other countries.
Madison will be sponsored by the News & Messenger newspaper of Manassas, Virginia.
Besides being able to participate in the national spelling bee, Madison also received a trophy, a Webster's Third New International Dictionary and gift cards to Barnes & Noble from the Bel Air Woman's Club.
Last week's competition marked the second time Madison participated in the local spelling bee. In 2011, she finished in the top five, insidenova.com reported. Her experience paid off.
“It was better this time. It felt better,” she told insidenova.com as she gripped her trophy. “Look, this trophy is different from last year’s!”