Everyone is gearing up MAOTeen and that means that pageant season is underway in many of the states. The next contestant we are featuring is Kaley Rae Leas, the current Miss White Rose City’s Outstanding Teen. Continue reading to learn more about Kaley and her journey towards the crown!

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For those who may not be familiar with you, tell our readers a bit about yourself and your background within the pageant world.
I am Kaley Rae Leas, your 2018 Miss White Rose City’s Outstanding Teen. This is my second year participating in the Miss America Program and I love every minute of it. For 4 and a half years I have suffered with depression and anxiety from bullying and insecurities. Through this experience I have created a passion for spreading awareness to this issue and making others feel good about themselves inside and out. I enjoy spreading awareness in classrooms and hosting Zumba classes to make individuals feel good and positive about themselves. My goal is to make an impact on this issue and spread awareness to children and adults.

The four points of the Miss America crown represent: service, scholarship, style, and success. Which one is the most important to you and why?
In my opinion, service is most important to me because it not only makes an impact on people but also makes me feel good as an individual. It’s important to go out in our community and spread awareness to the issues closest to our hearts.

During Madison Dompkosky’s reign, what is one characteristic you’ve seen her bring forth as Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen, and which do you hope to emulate if you were to win the title?
The current Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen, Madison Dompkosky, brings forth so much kindness and love to the people who surround her. She’s very passionate about her platform, Thank a veteran, and I hope to emulate the same passion towards my platform if I were to win this title.

What have you learned from our current Miss Pennsylvania, Katie Schreckengast, that can help you be a better outstanding teen?
I have learned from our current Miss Pennsylvania, Katie Shreckengast, how to be poised, confident, and beautiful in my own skin. These individuals truly are inspiring and have inspired many individuals throughout Pennsylvania.

Please share with our readers your platform and why you’ve chosen to advocate for it.
My platform is Let your Beauty Shine From Within, promoting positive self-body image. I chose to advocate this as my platform because I have suffered with insecurities regarding my self-body image as well as depression and anxiety due to being bullied from a young age. My goal is to spread awareness towards bullying and how to feel good about yourself inside and out also how to make others feel good as well. This topic is very close to my heart and I hope to encourage and inspire others to take action and feel good about their appearance. It’s important to be kind to yourself along with be kind to others. You never know what they may be going through.

If you were to win the title of Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen, how do you hope to better educate your generation about your platform and the importance it holds?
If I were to win the title of Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen, I would better educate my generation by continuing Zumba classes to be able to get together with loved ones, friends and to meet new people. It’s a time to dance, have fun, and feel good about yourself while laughing with friends and family. Also, I will talk about my personal experience and how I overcame struggles and how I am currently still overcoming battles in my life. Sharing my story may encourage another to speak up and get help. I would also create a group where individuals can come and have someone to talk too if they are struggling with issues in their life.


Tell us about your talent and the decisions you made in proceeding with this talent.
For my talent I twirl baton. I have been a baton twirler for 15 years and I do not regret a second of it. I am a 4-time national champion and I now have students of my own. I chose this to perform as my talent because it is my escape when I am feeling down or insecure about myself. It has opened up many doors and gave me multiple opportunities throughout my life to meet a variety of people, perform at professional basketball/ football games and has allowed me to gain confidence in myself. Baton twirling means a lot to me and it is very close to my heart.

Having been in pageants and after winning a local title, what advice do you have for those who want to start competing in the MAO system?
Go for it! It is a wonderful experience and you will meet so many amazing, inspirational people that you will create close bonds along with memories to last a lifetime. Competing in the Miss America program was one of the best decisions I have made and I encourage other young girls to join the sisterhood and compete as well!

Because of the way media and certain television networks have portrayed the lifestyle of pageantry, there is a preconceived notion of what a pageant girl is like. How do you think that being a part of the Miss America Organization you are able to break that barrier?
In my opinion, there is more than a crown and banner when you are apart of the Miss America Organization. There is a strong sisterhood, confidence, memories, scholarships, and opportunities to spread awareness to a variety of issues. We can break this barrier by continuing to advocate our platforms to the public and portray each point of the Miss America crown.

Regardless of who wins the title of Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen, what is one goal which you have for them, which you hope they will accomplish during their reign?
Regardless of who wins Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen, I hope for them to continue to spread awareness to the platforms closest to their hearts. Most importantly to have fun and enjoy this opportunity.

Bravura is an artistic word for exceptional. Tell our readers what make you “bravura.”
As a teenager in today’s society, it is rare to find an individual willing to speak up and encourage others to be themselves and to Love themselves for who they are. To me, this makes me bravura.

Where can fans follow you on social media?
Follow my year as Miss White Rose City’s Outstanding Teen on my Instagram page under @misswhiterosecitysot, and also on my Facebook page under Kaley Rae Leas Miss White Rose City’s Outstanding Teen 2018.

Do you have any final words for the readers of Bravura Magazine?
No matter what, always remember you are amazing, beautiful/handsome, and are capable of achieving all your dreams. Never give up, be kind and love others and yourself, and let your beauty shine from within!