this is nightline. tonight, from pulpit to politics. >> thank you. >> a self help guru joining the crowded contenders for president with a soulful spin. >> we need a moral and spiritual awakening. >> elevated by oprah and with a star following, can she be elected? inside mary ann williamson's leap of faith. >> plus a hairy fairy tale landing a huge modelling gig after blowing up on instagram. is social media the new casting call for models?

first the nightline 5.

good evening. thanks for joining us. the iowa caucuses are still a year away, and yet, the playing field is already getting crowded. in this moment of unconventional politics, one woman hopes to break away from the pack using a message of love as her stump

speech. here's abc's marcy gonzalez. >> i am the candidate. >> for president. >> reporter: there's still more than 600 days until the 2020 election. democrats are already piling into the race. so far about two dozen have said they'll run or are interested in running for president. among them, six women. >> for president of the united states. >> for president of the united states. >> for president of the united states of america. >> reporter: but one candidate is better known for her inspirational teachings than for her politics. >> thank you. >> you've heard me say before, we've had a crisis of adulthood in our society. too many women have acted like boys and too many women have acted like girls. >> your life is off track, you have to look at yourself. look at your own character defects. look at your own values, your own principles. >> reporter: mary ann williamson

is known for her thoughts on love, divinity, and personal growth. >> americans are dressed not because there's no money. we're dressed because it feels like something died inside. >> reporter: among her many well-known quotes, our deepest fear is we're powerful beyond measure. >> what's the soul? >> for me it's the truth of who we are. the light, the love which is within us. it goes by different names, but the truth of us. >> reporter: she skyrocketed to fame in 1992 with a spot on the oprah show, later becoming a staple on the supersole sunday. >> if my heart's not open, i don't down load the possibility on earth as it is in heaven. >> i just got that in the biggest way. >> yeah. >> that is really good. >> with seven new york times best-selling books including a return to love and hundreds of speaking engagements, she's guided her fan base for the past

35 years. >> what do you love about her as a friend, as a person? >> she's really smart. she knows what she's talking about. she reads a lot. and she thinks a lot. and she meditates every day. >> she's a strong, powerful woman. through my transformation, i began listening to her lectures. that transformed my life. >> reporter: now the woman once called the high priest of pop religion is taking the podium to the pulpit. >> that's why i'm running for president. >> reporter: we were there as she took to the same southern california stage where she's lectured for years and before hundreds of enthusiastic supporters -- >> i think it's fantastic. i think we need somebody like her in office. >> reporter: officially joined the race. >> at what point did you think i might run for president? >> it happened in a kind of

moment. it was one of those things where the idea just popped in. you know, i'm sure this is true of everyone who is running. you have to feel a deep calling to do this or you wouldn't take it on. i think what we need in the white house is more a visionary than just a political mechanic. the presidency is primarily a role of moral leadership. we need more than anything else in america today, we need a moral and spiritual awakening. >> reporter: what would you say to people who fear you may not have the grit for the highest office? >> experienced politicians have led us to the greatest income inequality since 1929. we need to disenthrall ourself from this mess her raise that those who know how to run the car know where it should be driving. >> reporter: she's taking the wheel and going full throttle. >> how are you? >> reporter: taking her passionate case far beyond her fan base. with plans to move to iowa next month ahead of next year's critical primary.

>> i think we have a much bigger issue on our hands than just beating donald trump in 2020. the greatest ally of the united states will be humanity >> joining us is mariann williamson. she reassures us that miracles do occur more often than you think. >> reporter: the woman credited with transforming lives. >> i've been following you religiously -- >> reporter: says she's now hoping to save american democracy. >> our founders meant for the wisdom of the american people to be the governing force of our democracy. and that's where my expertise lies. not just the mechanics of government but the mechanics of consciousness. the mechanics by which people rise to our own wisdom, our own nobility. that's the first place where we need to awaken. and we're called to be good nations. >> we were baptized just over

there. >> reporter: she'll need to distinguish herself as the democratic field continues expanding. >> the democrats are engaged. they're energized and feel like they have a chance against president trump. there's no heir apparent in the party. >> i think it's healthy for your democracy that so many people are running. this is an all hands on deck type of moment. >> reporter: this is not her first time in the political arena. she ran for congress as an independent in california with backing from some friends. alanis morriset wrote her campaign song. she came in fourth in the primary. what did you learn from the experience? >> i thought i understood the issues. i underestimated the fact that i knew nothing about running a

political campaign. many people including president obama lost a congressional campaign before they went on to the next thing. >> reporter: williamson is a progressive. her website covers her stance on issues including immigration, gun control and climate change. she's also focussed on the spiritual climate of america. >> there's a certain level of spiritual and moral rot that has led to political corruption, that has led to immeasurable human suffering. >> reporter: and she feels president trump has brought hur country to a critical cross road. >> i think president trump is the logical extension and embodiment of a problematic world view that's been with us for a long time. our political establishment made the businessman god. the desire in 2016 for change on the part of the american people was legitimate. the change agent we got is no change agent at all except in the worst possible way. >> reporter: do you pray for president trump? >> i do pray for president

trump. we're all innocent children of god. the world is not served by president trump being not in his best mind. and i think when you pray for someone, you're praying that they be returned to their right mind. >> for her to breakthrough, it's going to have to be her connection on a spiritual level. this is an entirely different message and candidate, an entirely different background. she's going to have to appeal to people on a plain that most politicians don't or can't. >> reporter: williamson is aware of just how unconventional her aspirations are. what kind of negative feedback from you heard so far? >> who is she? who does she think she is? she has no experience in government. i'm a 66-year-old woman. i'll take on any of these people for the kind of experience i've had in my life that i think is relevant to what america needs today. >> reporter: she says she's taking the inner peace she's taught for years to heart as she prepares for the challenges

ahead. how tough is this going to be for you? >> i assume very tough at times. it's an emotional and psychological challenge as well as an organizational challenge, financial challenge. you have to raise so much money. it's not going to be easy, but exciting to be part of the game, to be in there. i feel i'm where i should be. >> let us make this a more beautiful world. i'm ready for this, ladies and gentlemen. please join with me. let's lay this down. thank you very, very much. >> reporter: our thanks to marcy gonzalez. up next, baby, she was born with it. the mini model making big news for her luscious locks. touch shows how we really feel. but does psoriasis ever get in the way? embrace the chance of 100% clear skin with taltz... the first and only treatment of its kind offering people with moderate to severe psoriasis

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>> and now to the long haired baby whose social media stardom skyrocketed her to a pantene gig. she has hundreds of thousands of people following her every move. >> want to know my biggest beauty secret? >> my hair feels stronger than i could ever imagine. >> reporter: pantene is known for using the biggest stars for their strands, but it's the newest spokesperson causing the most waves. meet baby chanco. she was recently named the face of pantene in japan. and she's not your average one-year-old.

look at that hair. that's no wig. she was born with a head of hair that would make ra pun zel jealous. her mom posted her luscious locks to instagram. it got a lot of likes. and then a lot more. and boom, just like that, a social media sensation was born. despite being barely old enough to walk, she has nearly 400,000 people following her. >> we hope she's going to be involved in fashion or modelling. where she'll be able to deliver the attraction and charm of the japanese culture. >> reporter: and sure, like any diva, she has her fair share of fussy moments. that didn't stop the multibillion dollar adult hair care company from wanting to partner with an infant. >> i've never seen a baby to have such unique, thick hair. >> reporter: that glorious mane has made her the longest model

to ever represent a global hair care brand. >> she's a great symbol of the diversity and uniqueness coming through her unique hair. >> reporter: she's part of the lucrative and sometimes controversial world of child modelling where the stakes are high and the competition is fierce. kids serve as brand ambassadors for household names like ralph lauren, target and macy's. >> we live in a world where there are opportunities and so many people are business people and want to make other money for their families. >> reporter: and social media is the choice for parents to put their kids out there. is it the new casting call? >> instagram and other platforms are a great way for modelling agencies to find new talent. it's a really easy way to see the personality of a child, to see the personality of a family. and i think that it just makes searching a lot easier. >> reporter: how has instagram

changed the game? >> it does help us find new talent every once in a while. it's great marketing tool. i would say that my business was basically built off social media. >> reporter: do casting directors look at a potential model's instagram feed to see how many followers they have? >> they just want to see the kids candidly. it's all about what does the kid look like when they're just being a kid. >> reporter: here in new york we're behind the scenes at a photo shoot with these kid models. >> put your hands right here. >> reporter: they are trying to make it big. >> my work is taking pictures. >> reporter: do you go to school yet? >> yeah. >> reporter: kindergarten may be their day jobs but after school, it's straight to the studio for their side hustle. what's your name? >> galeo. >> reporter: i like that game. do you have a good pose? you like to put your hand in the pocket? that's a good move. >> i have a pocket too.

>> reporter: you have a pocket too? that's crazy. these are the force behind these starry eyed hopefuls. >> i'm going to take your pictures. >> reporter: forging a reputation as mini model makers. what makes a good child model. >> the first thing is they want to be there. the first kid model is the one who is like i want to be on tv. how do i get in a magazine and their mom is like okay, i'll look into it because they keep begging me. and they walk onset and love being there. they light up in front of the camera. they're so happy to be there and have fun with other kids. >> reporter: who's that? >> me. >> reporter: but while moms are trying to build a following for their little ones, they say finding the next baby chanco is lightning in a bottle. >> there will be other babies popping up on instagram with long hair thinking that well, my kid has long hair. that same thing is going to happen.

it just doesn't. >> reporter: children's wear is a multibillion dollar vi in the u.s. and moms have become the driving force behind the talent, handling the day today of their kid's lives which means schools and gigs. >> you can't move again. >> reporter: what's it like taking them from shoot to shoot and being on the road as the momager. >> it's fun for me. i don't mind it. >> reporter: some parents there's a worry kids will grow up and not like their photos are out there for the world to see. do you ever think what if they look back and think what were you thinking? >> i think about it all the time. you don't know. >> reporter: oversharing may leave parents vulnerable to scams and other dark corners of the internet. what advice would you give to parents posting like crazy? >> be aware there's somebody out there if they have access to your photos, they might be taking it the wrong way. there's creepers attracted to kids, and it's just like the sad

reality of life, and you should just be aware of what you're posting. >> reporter: but for now, their little faces still light up. >> one, two, three, boogers. >> reporter: when work feels like play. >> awesome. >> reporter: up next, a six-year-old with a personal battle. vowing to fight the bad guys. >> the problem is -- >> to keep fighting the bad guys. >> until. >> until all of my cancer is gone. >> until all of my cancer is gone. >> congratulations, buddy. tive , are you okay? even when i was there, i never knew when my symptoms would keep us apart. so i talked to my doctor about humira. i learned humira can help get, and keep uc under control when other medications haven't worked well enough. and it helps people achieve control that lasts.

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finally tonight, one little girl's big dream comes true. six-year-old abigail wants to fight crime while she's facing her biggest personal battle yet. >> i have cancer. the bad guys are in my hungs. >> her family says her cancer is incurable, but abigail had a wish to become a police officer in freeport, texas. with a uniform made for her,

abigail was sworn in as an hon nar officer. her strength bringing the police chief to tears. >> i knonow. >> i now. >> and forever. >> and forever. >> promise to keep fighting the bad guys. >> promise to keep fighting the bad guys. >> until. >> until. >> all of my cancer is gone. >> until all my cancer is gone. >> congratulations. >> a hug and an oath to fight crime and those bad guys. her courage clearly touching the hearts of so many. we wish abigail and her family all the best. thanks for watching nightline. before we go, be sure to check out the investigation, a new podcast from abc news taking you behind the scenes into their war room as your investigative team covers the russia investigation. the first episode drops tomorrow. you can subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. thanks again for watching. good night, america. night, america.

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