North Carolina Girl Crowned ‘Miss America’s Teen’
I must be honest. I didn’t think that “pageants” were even a thing anymore. Not that I have anything against them, I just assumed that some facet of uninformed cancel culture would have made it his/her mission to shut the pageant world down. I mean, you can hear the arguments now, can’t you? “Why are we objectifying these ladies?” “A woman’s worth is much more than external beauty.” Also, as polarizing as former President Donald Trump is, his close association with the Miss USA/Miss Universe Pageants did this world no favors.
No matter. I was glad to discover I’m loud wrong. The pageant world continues to survive and thrive. And North Carolina’s Hanley House was the main beneficiary this weekend as she was named Miss America’s Teen.
The competition took place over the weekend at The Walt Disney Theater in Orlando. Miss America’s Teen is the teenage division of the venerable Miss America program. The 51 contestants were made up of young women between the ages of 13-18 from across the United States. The competition was contested in the categories of fitness, evening gown and talent.
In what has to be considered a major surprise, Hanley House is the first North Carolinian to win the Miss America’s Teen title. In fact, this is ONLY her third pageant entry ever. She tells WRAL, “Less than a year ago, I competed for my first prelim for Miss North Carolina, and I got the title for Miss Cleveland, which is my hometown. After that I went straight to Miss North Carolina, I had a goal of making top-15 at Miss North Carolina. Six months later, I’m Miss America Teen. It’s such a surreal and full-circle moment.”
For those who choose to disparage pageants like Miss America’s Teen, keep this in mind. There is MAJOR scholarship money involved. Hanley House, as the new Miss America’s Teen, picked up a $60,000 scholarship to the school of her choice. Or a 4-year scholarship to the University of Alabama (must say, seems random).
Congratulations to North Carolina’s Hanley House, the new and reigning Miss America’s Teen 2024.