KAILUA-KONA — Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Piper Pearson who loved to pretend to be Snow White.
Today, the 17-year-old Kealakehe High School graduate is living a different kind of fairy tale, one that appears on track for a happily ever after.
Pearson just started her own business called Big Island Princess Parties, where she brings real princesses to meet and mingle with girls at birthday parties and other special events.
“This is an idea I had in the midst of a heartbreak,” Pearson said, recounting the journey to becoming a self-made entrepreneur. “I realized that I didn’t need a knight in shining to become a princess; I could make myself a princess with an idea, and a bit of faith, trust, and pixie dust.”
Pearson cashed out a $500 savings bond and used that money to get a business license, tax ID number, and several princess costumes.
“I started development on my business last December,” said Pearson. “I got it off the ground in February and we just got our first booking, which is birthday party in Kona for a 2-year-old little girl. We have different party packages. Everything from a 30-minute visit from one princess, all the way to a full package where we provide everything from the cake and ice cream, to the plates and cups. We bring games and plan the entire party for you. Also, our princesses always have someone with them, like a coachman or a lady-in-waiting. No one ever goes alone for safety reasons.”
Pearson’s parents are supportive of her decision to start her own business.
“I was so proud of her for taking this initiative early on in life, said her father Gary Pearson, an RN at Kona Community Hospital. “I had a few business ideas of my own as a young man, but never followed through on them, which has been a major regret of mine. If you never try, you never know.”
Pearson’s mother was hesitant at first, but is happy for her daughter and proud of her decision.
“At first I was upset that Piper had decided to take a year off of school and not go to college,” said Vicki Pearson. “Now, I’m glad she had a chance to live her dream. She’s always wanted to be a princess!”
Pearson recruited her “princesses” from networking with friends she knew from her experience with pageants and theatre. It was important to her that the young women she chose to play the princesses were good role models in real life.
“I did a really thorough job making sure all the girls who play the princesses are really good role models,” said Pearson. “If I were to have kids, and I was going to pay someone to be around them, I would want them to be a really good person with outstanding character. Our princesses are princesses in real life. They’re all very kind and do good things for the community.”
Pearson spent some of her youngest years in southern California, where her mom bought them annual passes to Disneyland. She was hooked on princesses ever since, and is now using the money she is earning on her new endeavor to finance her college education. She hopes to empower and inspire young women and girls of all ages to take the world by storm.
“I want to leave the girls with excitement and magic,” she said.
Info: www.bigislandprincesses.com