Five-year-old Edith Fuller outspelled more than 50 other kids to win the regional spelling bee in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and become the youngest person to ever qualify for the Scripps National Spelling Bee, to be held in May.
Fuller, who is homeschooled, spelled the word “jnana” to win the Green Country Regional Spelling Bee title, according to CNN. She also spelled words such as Panglossian, Baedeker, and sarsaparilla on her way to the national bee.
She said her success comes from studying words when she spells them wrong.
“Mommy asks me a word, and every time I misspell one, I will look at it,” Edith said, CNN reported.
Her mother Annie Fuller said she has a natural gift for spelling. “We were amazed to find that she really has a knack for spelling,” her mother said, CNN reported.
Contestants up through eighth grade are eligible for the national bee. Last year’s youngest contestant, Akash Vukoti, was 6 years old, but he was eliminated in the second round of the bee on the word "bacteriolytic."
Akash was a crowd favorite last year, telling CNN he wanted to be an astronaut, then changing his mind to actor after meeting Steve Harvey.
“I feel thankful,” Edith said of her win at the regional spelling bee, Sports Illustrated reported. She won a trophy almost as tall as herself in that contest.
Edith will have to compete with teens up to three times her age at the 90th annual Scripps National Spelling Bee, which starts May 28. There is no minimum age for the event.
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