From Fort Myers to New York to Hollywood: Young local performer now booked nationwide
Fourteen-year old Cape Coral resident Mary Ann Connolly, a local singer, model and songwriter, will be performing and modeling locally and nationally in the next few months.
She recently appeared as a featured performer at the Learning For Life “Six Years of Community & Laughter” event held at Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium in Fort Myers, after appearing in September at the prestigious New York Couture Fashion Week.
She will then head to Miami in late October for a high profile fashion show featuring the designs of famed Miami-based fashion designer Lourdes Attencio who helped launch her national modeling career. On Dec. 6, she heads to Hollywood for a red carpet fashion event again featuring Attencio’s line.
Since appearing in September at the prestigious New York Couture Fashion Week, Mary Ann ‘s career has skyrocketed.
Besides modeling at the famous Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan for the show, Mary Ann also performed as a singer at several of the three-day event festivities. She was then asked to perform at a private black tie party, and has been invited back on Valentine’s Day, 2015, for the next like New York Couture Fashion Week.
On Dec. 6, she heads to Hollywood for a red carpet fashion event for the taping of ION Television’s grand finale episode of the show Custom Trends, again modeling Attencio’s line.
Her local credits include being named Coconut Idol at the Cape Coral Coconut Festival, and First Place Award Winner in numerous categories at the Southwest Florida Lee County Fair.
Mary Ann is also now a song writer, having recently written and recorded her original song Zany, which celebrates individuality.
Of her numerous accomplishments at such a young age, when asked why she trains and studies so hard at music, she said, simply, “It makes me happy.”
And her inspiration? “My family,” she said.
This includes her older brother, 18-year old Derek Connolly, a freshman at Florida SouthWestern State College, who has performed extensively in the area, and is also a talented songwriter.
“She works really hard at this,” said mother Annette Connolly. “She practices singing every day, her piano and guitar, and works on her song writing. She loves doing it, and we’re very proud of her.”
An eighth grade student at Challenger Middle School, she is active in drama and service organizations including National Honor Society, with numerous volunteer projects.
“Mary Ann is incredibly talented,” said local business leader Suzie Dugan of Lady In Pink Photography, who is the Learning For Life community event organizer. “She was our Best In Show last year, and this year she helped us celebrate the theme of “Six Years of Community and Laughter” at this special event.”
Connolly’s website is maryannconnolly.com.