Heather MacKenzie’s life has changed quite a bit over the past year or so.

The 14-year-old Mathews resident won in the talent category in last year’s National American Miss Virginia State pageant, then she went on to place in the top 10 in the National American Miss pageant.

MacKenzie’s official PR photo by Anthony Paderewski of Savannah, Georgia.

Now she’s established her own music publishing company, and she’s getting ready to release four original songs she has written. Her music producer has assured her she’s just what people are looking for.

“He said we need someone who’s more happy—a girl-next-door sort,” she said with her characteristic grin.

Heather and her mom, Kim Hopkins, spent five weeks in Atlanta over February and March so that Heather could work with producer Josh Monroy of Studio 1 Zero. They had met him in November to write three demos, and the plan was to turn those demos into actual recordings this time and to write two more demos for the future. But ...