'Waverly Place' actress on Women Today stage

The girl dresses strangely.

She has a dress made of writing markers. Another is adorned with cats, complete with a toy kitty sitting on her shoulder. She once wore a dress with a baby's jumper and shoes sewn to the front.

As the oddly dressed Harper Finkle on the Disney Channel hit "The Wizards of Waverly Place," actress Jennifer Stone is proud when fans say they can relate to her character.

"Surprisingly, I have a lot of kids say, 'I love this outfit or that outfit.' Then a lot of children who say to me, 'I dress like Harper,'" says Stone, who'll be at the Women Today expo on March 21 to meet fans.

"They don't literally, but they dress funky or quirky or weird. That means a lot to me," she says.

A native of Arlington, Texas, Stone says she can relate to the fans who see something special in Harper's fashion sense. "I've always dressed a little funky," says the 17-year-old actress. "I grew up in the suburbs, where there were a lot of cheerleaders and football players. I was always the odd one."

As Harper, Stone is glad to show that strange can be cool. "I'm very proud to be a part of something that tells kids it's OK to be themselves."

Stone got interested in acting at age 4 by accompanying her brother to play rehearsals. "I went to all of them, and I thought 'I can do this!' " she recalls.

Then this "hobby that got out of control" led Stone and her family to Hollywood, where she auditioned for roles. Her first break came with a guest part in the now-canceled series "Line of Fire."

The bubbly Stone also can be seen in the new Disney film "Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars," where she plays the title character.

Stone says she fit right into the colorfulness of Hollywood. "I like living in a place where everyone's weird," Stone says with a laugh.

"I always encourage people to go with the beat of their own drum. I strongly believe in that."

Women Today

■ When: Friday-Sunday, March 19-21

■ Where: Knoxville Convention Center, 701 Henley St.

■ Hours: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday

■ Tickets: $10 at the door. Discount tickets available online.

■ Web: womentoday.com

Special events

■ Women's Wine Down: Friday, March 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Hosted by Fabio Viviani from Bravo's 'Top Chef.' Food, wine and shopping event to benefit the Empty Stocking Fund. Cost: $40; order online.

■ Covenant Health Conversation Stage: Interact with experts on all topics that affect the lives of women. For schedule, go to womentoday.com

■ KnoxMoms Summer Camp Fair, Sunday, March 21.

Cooking School Stage

Friday, March 19

■ 10 a.m.: Sisters of the Skillet, featuring Jennifer Alexander and Mary Constantine

■ 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.: Fabio Viviani, Bravo's 'Top Chef'

■ 1 p.m.: Ted Prater, Crown and Goose

■ 3:45 p.m.: Easter Table cooking contest winner

Saturday, March 20

■ 9:45 a.m.: Easter Table cooking contest winner

■ 11 a.m.: Fabio Viviani, Bravo's 'Top Chef'

■ 12:15 p.m.: Bruce Bogartz and Charlene Oesterling, Rouxbarb

■ 1:30 p.m.: Melissa d'Arabian, host of Food Network show 'Ten Dollar Dinners'

■ 2:45 p.m.: Jeffrey DeAlejandro, Crown and Goose

■ 4 p.m.: Sisters of the Skillet featuring Jennifer Alexander and Mary Constantine

Sunday, March 21

■ 12:15 p.m.: Sisters of the Skillet featuring Mary Constantine and Jennifer Alexander

■ 1:30 p.m.: Bruce Bogartz, Rouxbarb

■ 2:45 p.m.: Melissa d'Arabian, host of Food Network's 'Ten Dollar Dinners'

■ 4 p.m.: Easter Table cooking contest winner

Fashion/ entertainment stage

Friday, March 19

■ 11 a.m.: Daisy Luellen Presentation

■ 12:30 p.m.: Stunned 2 Stunning Fashion w/JCPenney

■ 2 p.m.: Skirt Fashion Show

■ 3:30 p.m.: Daisy Luellen Presentation

Saturday, March 20

■ 9:30 a.m.: Sit. Stay. Strut. Pet Fashion Show

■ 10:30 a.m.: Daisy Luellen Presentation

■ 11:30 a.m.: Stunned 2 Stunning Fashion w/JCPenney

■ 12:30 p.m.: Patricia Heaton

■ 1:30 p.m.: Artistry Presentation

■ 2:30 p.m.: Smoky Mountain Harley Davidson Show

■ 3:30 p.m.: Skirt Fashion Show

■ 4:30 p.m.: Star 102.1 Her vs. Her

Sunday, March 21

■ 1 p.m.: Stunned 2 Stunning Fashion w/JCPenney

■ 2 p.m.: Girl Power Fashion Show

■ 3 p.m.: Jennifer Stone Meet & Greet

■ 4 p.m.: Skirt Fashion Show

Terry Morrow may be reached at morrowt@knoxville.com or 865-342-6445. His blog can be found at http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/telebuddy/. He contributes to "Live At Five At Four" on WBIR, Channel 10, and "The Marc & Kim & Frank Show" on WWST-FM, 102.1.

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