Cadence Flickinger is the reigning 2026 Preteen United States Emissary representing Maricopa, Arizona. An ambitious 13-year-old eighth grader, entrepreneur, and community leader, Cadence balances academic excellence with a passionate dedication to philanthropy, athletics, and the arts.
Community Impact & Entrepreneurship
- Sunshine Society Founder: Cadence is the creator of the youth-led initiative Official Sunshine Society on Instagram. Inspired by her uncle—a retired police officer who served during the Oklahoma City Bombing—she founded the organization to honor, support, and show deep appreciation for local police officers, firefighters, and first responders.
- Pocket Hearts: As a young entrepreneur, Cadence hand-sews custom pocket hearts and sells them at the Maricopa farmers market. She donates a percentage of all her business proceeds directly to nonprofit organizations.
Modeling & Acting – An accomplished talent on the rise, Cadence’s work is featured on her IMDB profile. Her notable projects include:
- Molly’s Paperdoll Land: Starred as the lead actress in this award-winning short film.
- Phoenix Fashion Week: Featured in a docuseries tracking the intense preparation for the premier fashion event.
- Together Financial: Appeared as a featured talent in a commercial for the financial institution.
School & Athletics – Cadence attends a local Arizona charter school on a unique four-day weekly schedule, allowing her to fiercely pursue a wide variety of extracurricular activities:
- Track & Field: Competes on a club team as a distance runner, specializing in the 1500m and 3000m races, while also training in shot put.
- School Sports: Actively competes on her school’s cross country and tennis teams.
- Performing Arts: Performs as a soprano in the Honor Choir and recently starred in her school’s spring production of Oliver.
- Faith: Devotes her free time to growing and bonding with her church youth group.
Personal Passions & Future Aspirations
- Avid Reader: An absolute book lover, her favorite series is Wilderlore by Amanda Foody. Her most prized possession is a personalized, author-signed copy of the fifth book in the series.
- Future Goals: Upon graduation, Cadence plans to attend either Grand Canyon University (GCU) or Northern Arizona University (NAU) to double major in Architecture and Interior Design.
Cadence’s Favorite Quote:
“Though she be but little, she is fierce.”
— William Shakespeare
Cadence’s Favorite Charities:
https://www.facebook.com/p/Supporting-The-Thin-Blue-Line-61553266277593
Follow Cadence on her journey!
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm13944465
https://www.instagram.com/cadenceflickinger
