Buti for the Beauty, a send-off for Miss Fall River

Kimberly Lim Souza, crowed in 2017, is about to compete for the Miss Massachusetts crown later this month. But first, a yoga party will be offered in her honor, and all Buti yoga buffs are invited.

FALL RIVER — A Buti for the Beauty party will send Miss Fall River, Kimberly Lim Souza, off in style — albeit a little sweaty.

Souza, crowed in 2017, is about to compete for the Miss Massachusetts crown later this month. But first, a yoga party will be offered in her honor, and all Buti yoga buffs are invited.

The session will be held at Government Center on Sunday, June 24, at 10 a.m., hosted by yogi Jen Potter, Duke’s Bakery, and DJ Pat Long.

“I’m so excited,” Souza said. “I’m going to keep the crown on.”

Souza, 22, of New Bedford, has been competing in pageants since she was 15 years old. But, taking the Miss Fall River crown came at just the right time.

“I’ve grown so much,” Souza said. “The timing was perfect.”

A dental assistant with aspirations to become a doctor of dentistry, Souza said she’s more confident these days and not as shy as she was as a teen.

That’s a good thing, because the bejeweled crown comes with the responsibility of representing the city with poise, appearing at events, public speaking and upholding platform ideals, all while looking good. She credits Buti yoga for the latter.

Her platform, not surprisingly, is “Healthy Smile, Healthy You,” to promote oral health. Her talent is singing.

“I always wanted to do something in health care,” Souza said.

But she never thought it would be in oral health. In fact, she had no interest in dentistry.

After taking a dental course in high school at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical, things changed.

“I ended up loving it,” Souza said.

She plans to finish her online studies at Southern New Hampshire University and complete her doctorate of dentistry in the Philippines. Souza is fluent in Filipino.

For now, she’s excited to compete for the Miss Massachusetts crown, a promoter of education and scholarship awards, along with a shot at the coveted Miss America designation.

The Miss Massachusetts Scholarship Pageant will be held this year on Sat. June, 30 at 7 p.m. at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester. Tickets are $50 and available online or by calling the box office at 877-571-7469. The Miss America pageant will air live on Sunday, Sept. 9, at 9 p.m., on ABC.

Buti for the Beauty is free with a suggested $5 cash donation for Boston Children’s Hospital, through the Children’s Miracle Network.

Duke’s Bakery will provide gluten-free and paleo baked goods and Cold Joe coffee. There will be raffle prizes. Free children’s entertainment will include balloon animals and face painting from the Treasure Chest.

To sign up for Buti for the Beauty, register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/buti-for-the-beauty-miss-fall-river-send-off-party-tickets-46831644710 or call Duke’s Bakery at 508-837-0624 or 508-558-6421.

Email Deborah Allard at dallard@heraldnews.com