AMERICAN PAGEANTS CROWNS 2018 NATIONAL TITLEHOLDERS IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA
(Orlando, Florida) – November 20, 2017 – American Pageants crowned five new national titleholders this past Saturday in Orlando, Florida.
Little Miss of Texas, Kailey Turner was crowned Little Miss of America 2018. Kailey is a 9-year-old from Floresville, Texas. Kailey is active in her school choir, an honor roll member and serves as a volunteer for the Ronald McDonald House.
Young Miss of Texas, Lindy Harano was crowned Young Miss of America 2018. Lindy is a 11-year-old from Burleson, Texas. Lindy is a competitive dancer and is a BISD Texas Reading Bee Champion.
Junior Miss of Texas, Haven Watts was crowned Junior Miss of America 2018. Haven is a 15-year-old from Joshua, Texas. Haven is the founder of Humble Wishes, a charity for chronically ill children from newborn to teen. She also serves as a member of the youth advisory council for Cook Children’s Hospital.
Miss Teen of Pennsylvania, Alana Castle was crowned Miss Teen of America 2018. Alana is a 17-year-old from Canton, Pennsylvania. She is ranked first in her class, a national honor society member and a 4-year athletic letterman in Track and Cross Country.
Miss of Washington, Sarah Jensen was crowned Miss of America 2018. Sarah is a 21-year-old from Weiser, Idaho attending Washington State University where she majors in elementary education. Sarah is a member of the Kappa Delta Pi, a fraternity for the top 20% of education majors.
Throughout the pageant the candidates competed in six distinct categories of judging: Scholastic Achievement, Service to School and Community, Personal Development, Personality Poise and Projection in evening wear, a General Awareness Test and Interview. President, Sunny Hill, stated: “This pageant is not a typical beauty pageant, with sixty percent of our judging completed prior to the judges even seeing the young ladies. American Pageants Organization highlights achievement and promotes confidence in the leaders of tomorrow.”
The outgoing titleholders crowned their successors at the conclusion of the event: Little Miss of America 2017, Bailey O’Dell, Young Miss of America 2017, Chesney Seagraves, Junior Miss of America 2017, Giselle Ashton, and Miss Teen of America 2017, Serena Zamarripa.
Other highlights of the weekend include: Special Olympics Inclusion Event at Wonder Works, Charming Charlie Shopping Event at Pointe Orlando, and a Pajama Jam get-acquainted party to meet all of the candidates. Haley Clover, Miss Teen of New York 2006, emceed the Pageant Final and Pageant Planet hosted the live event on social media networks. Candidates greatly enjoyed time at both Pointe Orlando and the Hyatt Regency, which was American Pageants host hotel.
About the American Pageants Organization:
The Miss Teen of America Scholarship and Recognition Pageant was founded in 1983 by Mr. Warren Alexander, a former educator and pageant director, and designed to help America’s youth reach their full potential. The scholastically based pageant recognizes young women for their outstanding personal achievements, leadership abilities, and artistic, creative or athletic talents. With no judging focused on beauty or attire, the pageant strives to promote confidence and an Accent on Achievement. In 2017, the Miss Teen of America Organization rebranded as American Pageants to include additional age divisions: Little Miss of America (ages 7-9), Young Miss of America (ages 10-12), Junior Miss of America (ages 13-15), Miss Teen of America (ages 16-18) and Miss of America (19-26).
To schedule a titleholder for an appearance, please contact American Pageants at 952-405-8882 or info@americanpageants.org. For more information, please visit www.americanpageants.org.
Full List of Awards:
Little Miss of America
- Little Miss of America 2018: Kailey Turner – Floresville, Texas
- First Runner-Up: Haylee Wilke – Brock, Texas
Young Miss of America
- Young Miss of America 2018: Lindy Harano – Burleson, Texas
Junior Miss of America
- Junior Miss of America 2018: Haven Watts – Joshua, Texas
- First Runner-Up: Star Diavolikis – Toppenish, Washington
- Second Runner-Up: Shelby Smith – Fitzgerald, Georgia
- Third Runner-Up: Grace Brody – Chattanooga, Tennessee
Miss Teen of America
- Miss Teen of America 2018: Alana Castle – Canton, Pennsylvania
- First Runner-Up: Shelby Bellah – Murray, Kentucky
- Second Runner-Up: Anna Becker – Maple Lake, Minnesota
- Third Runner-Up: Maya Roberts – Bonners Ferry, Idaho
Merit Finalists:
- Katlyn Mass – Bolivar, Missouri
- Julissa Virrey – Walla Walla, Washington
- Charnae Payne – Cinnaminson, New Jersey
- Mahala Doyle – Chelsea, Iowa
- MaKaylee Steiner – Mineral Wells, Texas
Miss of America
- Miss of America 2018: Sarah Jensen – Weiser, Idaho
- First Runner-Up: Ashley Becker – Maple Lake, Minnesota
Preliminary Judging Category Awards
General Awareness:
- Miss Teen of Iowa – Mahala Doyle
- Miss of Iowa – Alex Place
Academic Excellence:
- Miss Teen of Texas – MaKaylee Steiner
Service & Achievement:
- Young Miss of Minnesota – Ava Ernst
Personal Development:
- Junior Miss of Texas – Haven Watts
Interview:
- Little Miss of Texas – Kailey Turner
Personality Projection & Poise:
- Miss Teen of Washington – Julissa Virrey
Optional Event Awards
Creative Writing:
- Miss Teen of the Big Sky – Kristi Kollar
Photogenic Informal:
- Young Miss of Minnesota – Ava Ernst
Photogenic Formal:
- Junior Miss of Tennessee – Grace Brody
Art:
- Miss of the Lone Star State – Amy Vacek
Sportswear:
- Junior Miss of Tennessee – Grace Brody
Talent:
- Young Miss of Minnesota – Ava Ernst
Fun Fashion:
- Little Miss of Central Texas – Haylee Wilke
Personal Introduction:
- Little Miss of Texas – Kailey Turner
Other Awards
Pageant Planet Award:
- Junior Miss of Georgia – Shelby Smith
Pageantry Magazine Award:
- Miss Teen of the Big Sky – Kristi Kollar
Spirit of American Pageants:
- Young Miss of Georgia – Victoria Carroll
- Miss Teen of the Sooner State – Sierra Smith
