Former Toddlers & Tiaras star Eden Wood is named high school valedictorian

Former Toddlers & Tiaras star Eden Wood has been named as her high school valedictorian.

The 18-year-old took to Instagram earlier this week with a slew of celebratory snaps  wearing her graduation gown and cap.

She posed alongside her friends and family including mom Mickie who had also featured prominently on the TLC reality show.

Eden, who claimed more than 300 titles during her time as a child beauty queen, is now set to attend university in her home state of Arkansas to pursue a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism.

The 18-year-old took to Instagram earlier this week with a slew of celebratory snaps wearing her graduation gown

Eden was first thrust into the limelight at just six months old before becoming one of the main faces on Toddlers & Tiaras – which followed girls competing in child beauty pageants 

Speaking about her plans, Eden told Today: ‘I want to do something that I love. I don’t want to be stuck doing a job that’s boring. 

‘I’ve been in a front of a camera my whole life, so this feels like the perfect fit.’ 

Eden was first thrust into the limelight at just six months old before becoming one of the main faces on Toddlers & Tiaras – which followed girls competing in child beauty pageants.

Mom Mickie previously discussed the lengths she went to in order to prepare her daughter for the stage – which included spray tans, outfits and make-up.

Speaking on an episode of the show shared on YouTube by TLC, which recently resurfaced, she estimated that she had shelled out: ‘Probably around $65,000 or $70,000.’

Similarly, Heather Ryan, who acted as manager for the mother-daughter duo, added: ‘Mickie doesn’t penny pinch when it comes to pageant stuff.

‘Now she’s spent enough on wardrobe and pictures to pretty much feed every child in Botswana.’

Mickie announced in 2011 that Eden would no longer be competing in pageants so she could instead focus on forging a career in Hollywood.

Eden posed alongside her friends and family including mom Mickie who had also featured prominently on the TLC reality show

Mom Mickie (pictured together in 2012) is said to have forked out more than $70,000 during Eden’s glittering pageant career 

Mickie announced in 2011 that Eden would no longer be competing in pageants so she could instead focus on forging a career in Hollywood

She told ABC News at the time: ‘Why not see if we can’t have a Hollywood contract, a reality show, a spot on a Disney program? It’s the American dream. It’s her destiny.’

Eden has had a small selection of TV and film credits to her name since her retirement – and has also made appearances as a runway fashion model.

But, as well as going to college, it seems that she is now also considering dipping her toe back into the pageant water as she sets her sights on the Miss America title.

After sharing a recent reel to her TikTok account, where she has garnered more than 52,000 followers, one of her fans commented: ‘So are you gonna compete for Miss America?’

And Eden teased her return to the pageant scene, as she replied: ‘I hope so.’

She seems to have confirmed her hopes to Today as she said she had ‘been thinking about that really hard lately.’

The child star added that she wanted to use the platform to show ‘kids across the world that you can achieve your goals no matter your socio-economic status.’ 

Eden added: ‘Pageants were just so positive for me. Pageants gave me confidence. 

‘Anyone that puts a label on pageants and makes it negative — there’s something wrong with them and their way of thinking, because it’s innocent. It’s just like any other sport.’