While the Derrico headlines this year have been dominated by her parents’ divorce and a promised TV comeback, the quietest success story in the family has been walking runways in Las Vegas. Deonee Derrico — one of the famous quintuplets, born in September 2013 — has gone from quintuplet chaos to pageant sashes, and fans cannot stop talking about her. The only question dividing them: is this the start of something big, or is 13 far too young for the pageant world?
From Quint Chaos to the Catwalk: How Deonee Started at 10
Deonee’s modeling story started when she was just 10, according to TV Season & Spoilers. With mom Karen Derrico cheering her on, she entered her first beauty pageant — and she did not walk in cold. She trained properly, learning ramp walking from pageant coach Jovan Franklin, who taught her balance and confidence in heels. Fans who watched the early clips could not believe a 10-year-old walked like that. One commenter wrote what thousands were thinking: “Deonee was born for this!”
The Sash That Changed Everything: Jr. Teen North Las Vegas
After her first pageant, the opportunities started coming. Deonee walked her first fashion show in Las Vegas in a white jumpsuit with a flowing blue train — and the event supported a special cause, raising funds for children with autism. Then came the title: competing in the Nevada United World pageant, representing Jr. Teen North Las Vegas, she won her first sash. Karen posted the photo proudly: her daughter, hands on hips, beaming. For a girl who started as one of five babies sharing a birthday, it was a moment entirely her own.
The Pink Dress Moment Fans Still Quote
If one clip sealed Deonee’s reputation, it was the pink dress strut. Fans went wild over her sassy catwalk walk, with commenters calling her “mini Karen” — the same confidence, the same command of a room. Karen even turned the journey into an Instagram series, documenting everything from fittings to sponsors, and asked fans to vote for Deonee in the pageant’s People’s Choice category.
It is worth being honest about where the career stands: as of early 2026, Deonee had not done commercial campaigns yet, according to reports. Her runway foundation, though, is real — pageant titles, a charity fashion show, and a fan base that already treats her like a star.
The Debate: Proud or Too Young for Pageants?
Here is where the fandom splits. One side says Deonee is living proof that growing up on reality TV does not have to end in chaos — she found a passion, trained for it, and earned a title before she was a teenager. The other side worries: pageants, heels, and People’s Choice votes at 10, 11, 12 years old — is that a childhood, or a career imposed on one? Karen’s answer is visible in every post: support, not pressure.
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Deon has told fans the family is filming again, targeting a 2027 return, according to reports — though no network, title, or date has been confirmed. If cameras do come back, Deonee’s modeling journey is the storyline fans most want to see: the quint who quietly became the family’s breakout star while nobody was watching.
So, Derrico fans, pick a side: is Deonee the family’s next big star, and should the pageant world be cheering her on — or should a 13-year-old be kept far away from runways and sashes until she is older? Drop your verdict in the comments — Team Runway or Team Let Her Be a Kid?
