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by Stephanie Struyck Elgin
She’s a bundle of energy, smiles and talent. It’s no wonder the 12-year-old singer/songwriter has found success in just a few short months. Her voice is beautiful and her music is captivating.
Meet Miranda Finn.
It wasn’t until after her first birthday when Miranda discovered her love for music. Barely walking, she was so excited to sing Happy Birthday…and boy did she sing it well.
Throughout her preschool years, Miranda continued to perform. “I always liked to get up in front of everyone at family gatherings. Ever since I was little, I loved to sing,” states Miranda.
Born in New York, Miranda and her family eventually made their way to the west coast. Since then, she has won several awards for her songwriting. “In fourth grade I entered a PTA Arts Competition called Reflections. I wrote a song and won for my school. Last year, I entered another competition; I won at the school and district level and received a Merit Award at the state level. It was so cool,” said the budding singer. Miranda also received a special designation as Gifted and Talented in Voice through the L.A. Unified School District and was accepted into the Conservatory of Fine Arts at the California State University, Los Angeles.
Miranda is your typical 12 year old. She loves to play with her friends, shop and play games, but she especially loves being in the studio. “I write my own songs, about whatever is happening, happy or sad. Sometimes I just get a song stuck in my head and so I have to write it down. That’s how I write my originals.” Writing a song can take hours for the talented musician, other times it takes weeks. “I will write a song for a verse or a chorus and then I have to go to school and can’t get around to finishing it until later!” 
After singing in the hallway of her school just a short six months ago, the second and third grade music teacher, Avishay Goren, otherwise known as “Dumb Bunny” approached Miranda. After asking her who she was, he told her she couldn’t leave until he had spoken to Miranda’s parents. Fascinated with her voice, he wanted to do a demo with the talented musician.
Together, “Dumb Bunny” and Miranda wrote Never Let Me Go. After she recorded the song, Miranda was elated. “My dad played the recording for me and I was screaming with excitement!”
Miranda has since recorded four songs, and after her fifth song is recorded, they will release her first EP.
A few months ago, Miranda made a home video of one of her songs, Maybe I Can Change This World, and posted it on YouTube. Viewers from all over the nation heard the song, but it particularly resonated with one lady from New Jersey…a lady named Jane Bingham.
Jane Bingham is an amazing woman who spearheads the Beautiful and Bald Barbie campaign. “We want to bring awareness to the different reasons of hair loss in children and women from chemo, alopecia, Trichotillomania, etc., and that they can be brave, strong beautiful people…with or without hair,” states Jane. “Despite not having hair, there is nothing to be ashamed of. They can do anything; make their dreams come true, even without hair. That there is hope for a better future with awareness.” With the addition of wigs, bandanas, scarves and hats, the Beautiful and Bald Barbie would be a great way for young girls to deal with hair loss themselves or loved ones.
The Beautiful and Bald Barbie fan page on Facebook was an instant hit, generating over 150,000 likes worldwide in just a few months. After Jane had seen Miranda’s video on YouTube, she instantly fell in love with the song and with Miranda. “What drew me to Miranda’s song is the message, which is also the title Maybe I Can Change This World. That is what we are trying to do. Make the world a little better for children and women with hair loss. The fact that this song was being sung by a young girl with amazing talent just fit so perfectly with what we were doing,” states Jane. Maybe I Can Change This World, was chosen to be the theme song for the Beautiful and Bald Barbie movement.
With virtually no promotion, Miranda’s video has received over 9,500 views. It has been featured on Inspire Change (Facebook) and Inspiration Line (blog) and Santa Clarita news. Miranda has received fan mail from the Netherlands, Czech Republic, UK, Canada, and all around the U.S. through her website, mirandafinn.net. A middle-schooler in Pennsylvania wrote to ask to use the song for a “Lip Dub” video to be used as their school fundraiser and Miranda also received requests to use this and other original songs as soundtracks for online entries into a fashion design contest for another fan.
On February 10, MGA Entertainment announced its commitment to support the fight against cancer by launching new hairless versions of their hit doll brands Bratz® and Moxie Girlz™. Beginning in June, the dolls will be available at Toys “R” Us stores. MGA will donate $1 for every True Hope doll sold to distributors, which will go to City of Hope for cancer research. “Our hope is to get Mattel to also create a Beautiful Barbie as well.”
“It is amazing to be a part of this movement,” states Miranda. “It’s a huge honor!” And huge honor it is. Miranda’s song is an inspiration to all, and that together, we can change this world.
For more information about Miranda, visit www.mirandafinn.net. For information about the Beautiful and Bald Barbie campaign, visit www.facebook.com/beautifulandbaldbarbie.com.
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