By Sophie Abt
Photography by Justin Negard
Meet Isabel Pachios, a seven-year-old who is in third grade at Increase Miller Elementary School. She loves playing sports, drawing and performing on stage. And she’s a bit obsessed with ice cream.
If you had $100, what would you buy?
Ice cream!
Wow! That’s a lot of ice cream. What flavors would you buy?
All the flavors.
What toppings would you get?
Rainbow sprinkles, gummy bears, M&M’s, Skittles and Oreos.
Would you share?
No! I’d put it in the freezer and eat it every day.
I heard you were in “The Wizard of Oz.” What part did you play?
A crow, a flying monkey, Aunt Em and a Munchkin.
Four parts? Which one was your favorite?
The Munchkin.
Why?
Because I like to eat Munchkins.
Did you get to wear the flying monkey wings?
No. And one of the ears broke off my costume.
So you were a one-eared flying monkey?
I would’ve liked it better if I could actually fly.
What do you like to draw?
Ice cream!
Do you play any sports?
Yes. Lacrosse, tennis, skiing, swimming and soccer.
Wow! Do you have a favorite?
I don’t know… I like them all.
If you could be any age, what would you choose?
Nine.
Why?
It’s my lucky number.
Is that your number for a particular sport?
Yes, lacrosse. But I wanted to be seven.
Why couldn’t you be seven?
Two people were seven. Two people were six and seven.
(She does the six-seven hand motion.)
What’s your favorite animal?
A bunny. A white bunny.
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
Anything!
That’s not a superpower. Think hard. What superpower do you wish you had?
(Pauses to think.) I know. Flying!
Where would you fly first?
Florida. To the ice cream store in Florida.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
A singer and a climber.
What would you sing?
I don’t know.
Who’s your favorite singer?
Taylor Swift.
Do you have a favorite song by Taylor Swift?
No.
No?
Well, I do have a favorite song. But it’s not by Taylor Swift.
Okay, what’s your favorite song?
“Lush Life.”
By Zara Larsson? Can you sing it?
No. But I know the dance.
Can I see it?
(She does the viral TikTok Lush Life dance.)
Who is the funniest person you know?
Mabel.
Is she your best friend?
Yes.
What do you two do together?
We have sleepovers.
What do you do at your sleepovers?
Sleep. And we eat ice cream!
What’s your favorite breakfast?
Chocolate chip pancakes with whipped cream and sprinkles.
Is there anything I didn’t ask you about?
Nope. You know everything.
This article was edited by Gia Miller and fact-checked by Virna Sandler.
This article was published in the September/October 2026 edition of Connect to Northern Westchester.
Sophie Abt
Sophie Abt is a freshman at Syracuse University pursuing journalism. She interned with Connect to Northern Westchester during her senior year at Fox Lane HS. At Syracuse, Sophie is a writer for the University Girl, an online publication, and she recently joined Z89 radio training to become a DJ. Sophie enjoys exploring ways to develop her creative voice.
Justin is an award-winning designer and photographer. He was the owner and creative director at Future Boy Design, producing work for clients such as National Parks Service, Vintage Cinemas, The Tarrytown Music Hall, and others. His work has appeared in Bloomberg TV, South by Southwest (SXSW), Edible Magazine, Westchester Magazine, Refinery 29, the Art Directors Club, AIGA and more.
Justin is a two-time winner of the International Design Awards, American Photography and Latin America Fotografia. Vice News has called Justin Negard as “one of the best artists working today.”
He is the author of two books, On Design, which discusses principles and the business of design, and Bogotà which is a photographic journey through the Colombian capital.
Additionally, Justin has served as Creative Director at CityMouse Inc., an NYC-based design firm which provides accessible design for people with disabilities, and has been awarded by the City of New York, MIT Media Lab and South By Southwest.
He lives in Katonah with his wonderfully patient wife, son and daughter.
