Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2018 Explained

Winner:	Jessica Baeder
Represented:	Alabama
Venue:	Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida
Entrants:	51
Placements:	12
Before:	2017
Next:	2019

Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2018 was the 12th Miss America's Outstanding Teen pageant held at the Linda Chapin Theatre in the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on July 29, 2017, the same date as Miss Teen USA 2017. Nicole Jia of Oklahoma crowned her successor Jessica Baeder of Alabama at the end of the event. This was the first time that Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen captured the title of Miss America's Outstanding Teen.

As of 2023, it is the first and only edition of Miss America's Outstanding Teen to have two contestants who would later go on to capture the title of Miss America; Emma Broyles of Alaska and Grace Stanke of Wisconsin, who won Miss America 2022 & 2023 respectively.

Overview

Judges

The panel of judges on the final night of competition included TV anchor, veterinarian, and Miss America 1990, Debbye Turner Bell; beauty business executive, Sinead Norenius-Raniere, sociologist and professor, Hilary Levey Friedman; American tenor, Benjamin Brecher; pediatrician, Jamie Wells; and co-founder of Dance Network, Julie Stadler.

Results^[1]

Placements

Placement	Contestant
Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2018	– Jessica Baeder^[2]
1st runner-up	– Annie Swan^[3]
2nd runner-up	– Chloe Wildman
3rd runner-up	– Stephanie Wendt^[4]
4th runner-up	– Katie Preston
Top 9	– Aubrey Elizabeth Reed – Reece Weaver – Lydia Fisher – Evelyn Smith
Top 12	– Ellie Barmes – Emily Rae Shumacher § – Sabrina Harrison

§ America's Choice

Awards

Preliminary awards

Awards	Contestants
Preliminary Evening Wear and On Stage Question (OSQ)	Georgia – Annie Swan (tie) Oklahoma – Evelyn Smith (tie) Oregon – Emma Ellis Texas – Stephanie Wendt
Preliminary Talent	Alabama – Jessica Baeder Michigan – Katie Preston New York – Asia Hickman

Talent awards

Awards	Contestant(s)
Dance	Alabama – Jessica Baeder Georgia – Annie Swan Florida – Reece Weaver West Virginia – Sabrina Harrison
Instrumental	Hawaii – Maia Mayeshiro Kansas – Taylor Clark New York – Asia Hickman
Vocal	Michigan – Katie Preston

Other awards

Awards	Contestant(s)
Ad Sales Award	Pennsylvania – Madison Dompkosky
Children's Miracle Network (CMN) Miracle Maker	Massachusetts – Carly Fisher
Miss Congeniality/Spirit of America	Washington – Tia Moua^[5]
Non-finalist Evening Wear and On Stage Question	Oregon – Emma Ellis
Non-finalist Interview	Idaho – Ava Powell
Non-finalist Talent	Hawaii – Maia Mayeshiro Kansas – Taylor Clark
Outstanding Achievement in Academic Life	Maryland – Chloe Wildman
Teen in Action	Alabama – Jessica Baeder
Scholastic Excellence	Texas – Stephanie Wendt
Random Acts of Kindness	West Virginia – Sabrina Harrison

Contestants

• The Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2018 contestants are:

State	Name	Hometown	Age	Local Title	Talent	Placement	Special awards	Notes
Alabama	Jessica Baeder^[6]	Auburn	17	Miss Smith Station's Outstanding Teen	Ballet en pointe, "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"	Winner	Dance Talent Award Preliminary Talent Award Teens in Action Award	Daughter of Miss North Carolina 1984, Francesca Alder
Alaska	Emma Broyles^[7]	Anchorage	16	Miss Anchorage's Outstanding Teen	Vocal			Later Miss Alaska 2021 and Miss America 2022
Arizona	Dimon Elease Sanders^[8]	Glendale	17	Miss Glendale's Outstanding Teen	Dance			First African American to be crowned Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen
Arkansas	Aubrey Elizabeth Reed^[9]	Russellville	17	Miss Lake Dardanelle's Outstanding Teen	Dance	Top 9		Daughter of Miss Arkansas 1995, Paula Montgomery Swindle
California	Violet Joy Hansen^[10]	El Dorado Hills	17	Miss Central California's Outstanding Teen	Vocal
Colorado	Jordyn Penney^[11]	Johnstown	17		Dance
Connecticut	Brooke Cyr^[12]	Waterbury	15	Miss Naugatuck Valley's Outstanding Teen	Lyrical Acrobatics
Delaware	Nicole Hannah^[13]	Middletown	15	Miss Wilmington's Outstanding Teen	Baton Twirling
District of Columbia	Brooke Miller^[14]	Washington D.C.	15		Vocal
Florida	Reece Weaver^[15]	Jacksonville	15	Miss Jacksonville's Outstanding Teen	Acrobatic Jazz Dance, “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” from Evita	Top 9	Dance Talent Award
Georgia	Annie Swan	Wadley	15	Miss International City's Outstanding Teen	Tap Dance, “Hit the Road, Jack”	1st runner-up	Dance Talent Award Preliminary Evening Wear and OSQ Award (tie)
Hawaii	Maia Mayeshiro	Honolulu	16		Ukelele		Instrumental Talent Award Non-finalist Talent Award
Idaho	Ava Powell^[16]	Emmett	16	Miss Treasure Valley's Outstanding Teen			Non-finalist Interview Award
Illinois	Maddie Mazzella^[17]	Chicago	17	Miss Chicago's Outstanding Teen	Vocal
Indiana	Ellie Barmes^[18]	Vincennes	17	Miss Metropolitan's Outstanding Teen	Vocal	Top 12
Iowa	Lydia Fisher^[19]	Wapello	14	Miss Muscatine's Outstanding Teen	Tap Dance	Top 9
Kansas	Taylor Clark^[20]	St. John	17	Miss Butler County's Outstanding Teen	Drum Solo,“Sing, Sing, Sing” and “In the Mood”		Instrumental Talent Award Non-finalist Talent Award	Later Miss Kansas 2021
Kentucky	Abigail Quammen^[21]	Frankfort	17	Miss Capital City's Outstanding Teen	Broadway Vocal, "Astonishing"
Louisiana	Alana Lewis^[22]	Haughton	16	Miss Louisiana Watermelon Festival's Outstanding Teen	Vocal, "The Girl in 14G"
Maine	Briley Bell^[23]	Lewiston	16		Vocal
Maryland	Chloe Wildman^[24]	Lonaconing	16	Miss Frostburg's Outstanding Teen	Vocal	2nd runner-up	Outstanding Achievement in Academic Life Award
Massachusetts	Carly Fisher^[25]	West Bridgewater	15	Miss Boston's Outstanding Teen	Speed Painting		CMN Miracle Maker Award
Michigan	Katie Preston^[26]	Bridgman	17	Miss Sunset Coast's Outstanding Teen	Vocal, "Think of Me" from The Phantom of the Opera	4th runner-up	Preliminary Talent Award Vocal Talent Award	Performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Thursday night's preliminary competition during Miss America 2018 pageant^[27]
Minnesota	Emily Rae Schumacher	Mankato		Miss Mankato's Outstanding Teen		Top 12	America's Choice	Later named Miss Minnesota 2024
Mississippi	Holly Brand	Meridian	17	Miss Vicksburg's Outstanding Teen				Later Miss Mississippi 2021^[28]
Missouri	Heleena Haberer^[29]	Branson	16	Miss Springfield's Outstanding Teen	Contemporary Dance, “To This Day”
Montana	Alexi Baisch	Glendive	17
Nebraska	Carsyn Long^[30]	Gering	17	Miss Kearney's Outstanding Teen
Nevada	Carli Gumm^[31]	Minden	16	Miss Carson County's Outstanding Teen				Younger sister of Miss Nevada's Outstanding Teen 2011 and Miss Nevada 2016, Bailey Gumm
New Hampshire	Kenzie Goode	Londonderry	16	Miss Seacoast's Outstanding Teen	Tap Dance
New Jersey	Augostina Mallous^[32]	Cape May Court House	15	Miss Atlantic Shores' Outstanding Teen	Acrobatic Jazz Dance, "Hit Me With a Hot Note"
New Mexico	Sienna Mascarenas	Albuquerque	16	Miss Rio Grande's Outstanding Teen				Later Miss New Mexico 2021
New York	Asia Hickman	West Point	13	Miss Brooklyn's Outstanding Teen			Outstanding Instrumental Talent Award Preliminary Talent Award	Later Miss District of Columbia Teen USA 2022
North Carolina	Marissa Garrison^[33]	Mount Holly	15	Miss Queen City's Outstanding Teen	Contemporary Dance			Later a Season 15 rookie for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
North Dakota	Sydney Helgeson	Bismarck	16	Miss Bismarck's Outstanding Teen
Ohio	Gracie Fusco	Kirtland	16	Miss Great Lake's Outstanding Teen
Oklahoma	Evelyn Smith	Oklahoma City	16	Miss Oklahoma City's Outstanding Teen		Top 9	Preliminary Evening Wear and OSQ Award (tie)	Sister of Miss Oklahoma Teen USA 2016, Hellen Smith
Oregon	Emma Ellis	Portland	17	Miss Cascade's Outstanding Teen			Non-Finalist Evening Wear/OSQ Award Preliminary Evening Wear/OSQ Award
Pennsylvania	Madison Dompkosky^[34]	Mountain Top	15	Miss Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's Outstanding Teen	Tap Dance, "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough"		Ad Sales Award
Rhode Island	Caroline Hollingsworth^[35]	East Greenwich	15		Piano, 3rd Movement from "Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven
South Carolina	Ally McCaslin^[36]	Simpsonville	16	Miss Woodmont High School Teen	Vocal
South Dakota	Elizabeth Nesland	Rapid City	17	Miss Sioux Empire's Outstanding Teen
Tennessee	Autumn Arsenault^[37]	Knoxville	16	Miss Greater Greenville's Outstanding Teen	Violin, "The Phantom of the Opera" arranged by Lindsey Stirling
Texas	Stephanie Wendt	Coppell	17	Miss North Texas' Outstanding Teen	Dance, "I Believe" by Fantasia Barrino	3rd runner-up	Preliminary Evening Wear/OSQ Award Scholastic Excellence Award
Utah	Addelyn Brotherson^[38] ^[39]	Mount Pleasant	14	Miss Sanpete County's Outstanding Teen	Lyrical Dance, “Keep Me"
Vermont	Jenna Lawrence	St. Albans	16
Virginia	Isabella Jessee^[40]	Roanoke	17	Miss Southwestern Virginia's Outstanding Teen	Violin, "The Devil Went Down to Georgia”			Previously Miss Teen Virginia International 2015^[41] 4th runner-up at Miss Teen International 2016^[42]
Washington	Tia Moua^[43]	Spokane	15	Miss Spokane's Outstanding Teen	Jazz Dance		Miss Congeniality/Spirit of America Award
West Virginia	Sabrina Harrison^[44]	Martinsburg		Miss Berkeley County's Outstanding Teen	Dance	Top 12	Outstanding Dance Talent Award Random Acts of Kindness Award
Wisconsin	Grace Marie Stanke^[45]	Wausau	16	Miss Harbor Cities' Outstanding Teen	Violin, "Winter" by Vivaldi			Later Miss Wisconsin 2022 and Miss America 2023
Wyoming	Amelia Beck Winter^[46]	Wheatland

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2017 Scholarships. Miss America Organization. October 6, 2017.
2. News: Miss Smiths Station Jessica Baeder crowned Miss America's Outstanding Teen. Berson. Scott. 31 July 2017. The Ledger-Enquirer.
3. Web site: Joe . Walker . Miss International City's Annie Swan crowned Miss Georgia's Outstanding Teen . Ledger Enquirer . June 16, 2017.
4. Web site: Jess. Hernandez . CHS senior represents Coppell as Miss Texas' Outstanding Teen 2017. Coppell Student Media . September 19, 2017.
5. Web site: 2017 Scholarships. Miss America's Outstanding Teen.
6. News: Jessica Baeder crowned Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen 2017. Moore. Tamika. 5 March 2017. AL.com.
7. Web site: Matt . Hickman . More than a feeling . Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman . June 28, 2017.
8. Web site: Ariyanna . Norman . First Black Winner of Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen . Arizona Informant . June 27, 2017.
9. Web site: Carol . Rolf . Russellville teen wins state pageant. Arkansas Online. June 22, 2017.
10. Web site: Connor . McPherson . Sacramento-area girl crowned as Miss California's Outstanding Teen . The Fresno Bee . June 30, 2017.
11. Web site: There she is.... . Johnstown Breeze .
12. Web site: Mike . Chaiken . Local contestants pick up honors at state pageants . The Southington Observer . June 30, 2017.
13. Web site: Miss Del. Outstanding Teen from Middletown prepares for national pageant . Middletown Transcript . June 29, 2017.
14. Web site: Michael . Sanford McGuire . Briana Kinsey reigns as Miss District of Columbia . Blasting News . June 28, 2017.
15. Web site: Marilyn . Meyer . Palm Coast woman crowned Miss Florida 2017 . NWF Daily News . July 2, 2017.
16. Web site: MAOTeen America's Choice Award 2017 .
17. Web site: Maddie Mazzella to compete for Miss America's Outstanding Teen! . Chicago Tribune . June 19, 2017.
18. Web site: Joe . Walker . South Knox senior named Miss Indiana's Outstanding Teen . Vincennes Sun-Commercial . June 22, 2017.
19. Web site: Thomas . Geyer . Chelsea Dubczak of Urbandale named Miss Iowa 2017. Quad-City Times . June 24, 2017.
20. News: Taylor Clark is 1017 Miss Kansas Outstanding Teen . Rose . Gale . 10 June 2017. Pratt Tribune .
21. Web site: Frankfort teen to compete for national title in Orlando . Lexington Herald-Leader . June 26, 2017.
22. Web site: Meet the new Miss Louisiana's Outstanding Teen . The News Star . April 10, 2017.
23. Web site: 2017 Competition Results .
24. Web site: Jennifer . Fitch . Westminster woman crowned Miss Maryland 2017 . Herald-Mail Media . June 24, 2017.
25. Web site: Matt . Hickman . West Bridgewater honors Outstanding Teen hopeful . The Enterprise . July 8, 2017.
26. Web site: Justine . McGuire . Top 5 finish for Miss Michigan's Outstanding Teen at national pageant . MLive . July 31, 2017.
27. Web site: Alexandra . Newman . Bridgman teen sings national anthem at Miss America pageant . The Herald=Palladium . September 14, 2017.
28. Web site: Szymanowska. Gabriela. Miss Mississippi 2021: Miss Golden Triangle Holly Brand crowned winner. 2021-06-29. The Clarion-Ledger. en-US.
29. Web site: Brenda . Fike . Heleena Haberer is new titleholder . The Mexico Ledger . June 17, 2017.
30. Web site: Gering's Carsyn Long crowned Miss Nebraska Outstanding Teen . 27 April 2017.
31. News: Carli Gumm named state's outstanding teen. 2018-02-22. en.
32. Web site: Hanna . Schweder. Meet Augostina Mallous, the new Miss New Jersey's Outstanding Teen. Press of Atlantic City . January 27, 2017.
33. Web site: Todd . Hagans . Gaston teen gets state crown, trip to national pageant in Orlando . June 25, 2017. Gaston Gazette.
34. Web site: Toni . Pennello . Mountain Top teenager crowned Miss Pennsylvania's Outstanding Teen . Times Leader . June 22, 2017.
35. Web site: Salve Regina student, East Greenwich teen crowned in Miss Rhode Island Pageant . Providence Journal . May 29, 2017.
36. Web site: Miss Woodmont is new Miss SC Teen . The State . June 23, 2017.
37. Web site: Omer . Yusuf . Miss TN Outstanding Teen shows passion for music . The Jackson Sun . March 14, 2017.
38. Web site: The Pyramid . Addelyn Brotherson crowned 2017 Miss Utah's Outstanding Teen . October 20, 2016.
39. Web site: Robert . Stevens . Sanpete Messenger . Wales girl wins Utah Teen title . October 13, 2016.
40. Web site: Natalie . Faunce . Virginia's Miss Outstanding Teen Heads to National Competition . WSLS.com . July 17, 2017.
41. Web site: Matt . Chittum . Roanoke Catholic freshman lands full Hollins scholarship with pageant win . The Roanoke Times . May 6, 2015.
42. Web site: Miss Teen Virginia International™ 2015 . Miss Teen International.
43. Web site: The Road to MAOTeen 2018 – Tia Moua, Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen . Bravura Magazine . July 7, 2017.
44. Web site: Adranisha . Stephens . Miss West Virginia Outstanding Teen prepares for finals . The Journal . July 15, 2017.
45. Web site: Conservatory student Grace Stanke named Miss Teen Wisconsin . Wausau Conservatory . September 27, 2017.
46. Web site: Pat. Blair. Buyert Crowned Miss Wyoming. Sheridan Media. June 24, 2017.