ESPYs 2021: National Spelling Bee winner Zaila Avant-garde makes red carpet debut
Zaila Avant-garde just had one of the best weeks ever.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee champion attended the 2021 ESPYs in New York City this past weekend and was all smiles.
She also made a joyful red carpet appearance ahead of the show wearing a beautiful blue gown along with a bright yellow headband and hoop earrings.
"I'm feeling pretty good," Avant-garde said during a red carpet moment. She said she still can't quite believe she won the National Spelling Bee.
"So I'm still waiting for that to settle in on me," she said. "I guess my weekend is going to get even more exciting when I realize."
The 14-year-old spelling champion also made history as the first African American winner, as well as the first speller from Louisiana to win the annual competition.
"It felt like really good to become a winner simply because of the fact that I've been like working on it for like two years and then to finally have it like the best possible outcome was really good," Avant-garde told "Good Morning America" just hours after her historic win.
In addition to Avant-garde, other familiar faces at this year's ESPYs included track star Sha'Carri Richardson, tennis champion Naomi Osaka, "The Bachelor" season 25 lead Matt James, "GMA" host Robin Roberts and many more.
