The Miss America’s Outstanding Teen pageant is only a handful of months away; which means, it’s time to introduce another state’s pageant series on Bravura Magazine! Today we kick off “The Road to Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen.” The young girls who make up the MAOTeen PA Class of 2018 are eagerly getting ready for their state pageant. And soon Maddy Dompkosky will be crowning her successor. To kick off our series, the first contestant we introduce you to is Elaine Ficarra. Continue reading to learn more about Elaine and her journey to Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen!

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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.
My name is Elaine Ficarra, and I’m 17 years old. I represent the Harrisburg area as Miss State Capitol’s Outstanding Teen 2018. This is my second year with the Miss America organization, and I’m so honored to be a part of it. My hope is spread the message of my platform of youth empowerment during my reign as Miss State Capitol’s Outstanding Teen 2018 and hopefully as Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen 2018.

The four points of the Miss America crown represent: service, scholarship, style, and success. Which one is the most important to you and why?
Success is the most important point on the crown to me. I think success incorporates having a positive attitude and a range of important ideals that allows for someone to reach their goals and dreams, and I think everyone has the right to be truly happy and achieve anything they want to. Furthermore, it actually involves the other points of the crown in order to do so. For instance, one’s education is very important in order for him/her to work to their best abilities. Being that positive contribution to society and offering help to those in need will allow for a prosperous community where we can all thrive. With these ideals and more in perspective, I believe that success is important to me, and that’s why I work towards spreading my platform of youth empowerment, so our generation can be motivated to reach that state of happiness and be successful in achieving their own goals and dreams.

During Maddy’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?
During Maddy’s reign, I found that she was very passionate about her platform, Thanks a Veteran. She has her own personal experience with it, allowing for her to draw those emotions and create a platform that can be a positive contribution to the community. Furthermore, I too am passionate about my platform in that I have my own personal experience that makes me so passionate about sharing the message. Furthermore, I want to emulate the drive in advertising my platform so lead a movement to empower the youth in achieving their goals and dreams. I also want to be a positive contribution to our society.

What have you learned from our current Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen, Maddy Dompkosky, that can help you be a better outstanding teen?
I found Maddy Dompkosky to always present herself as her best self. Everywhere she goes, she advertises her platform and shares her dancing talent. Moreover, I think she is a great example of someone who is determined to achieve and be successful. She works hard for what she is passionate about.


Please share with our readers your platform and why you’ve chosen to advocate for it.
Last year, there was a very unfortunate event that affected my life. I had a very close friend who I believe became overwhelmed with difficult family situations, grades, finding the right college, and just trying to find out where he fits into society. He decided that everything was too much, too tiring, and he sadly took his own life. This person was a wonderful young man and I believe that he could have done great things, and I know this whole generation can too. This is why I emphasize that we need to stay on a positive path and work hard to achieve our goals and dreams, so that unfortunate events like this do not need to happen again. I believe that this generation needs to be empowered, and I hope that with my platform, Be Empowered, I can be the one that can make this difference in our community. As gratifying as it is to have my own successes, it is even more satisfying and special to help another do the same.

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?
Because I’m very passionate about my platform and targeting it towards the youth, I want to appear at schools all around the state and speak about the importance of my platform. I also will visit organization and hospitals such as CHOP. I want all of these people to know that it is possible for us to be a leader in making our community the best it can be. I want them to know that we can and will do amazing things.

Tell us about your talent and the decisions you made in proceeding with this talent.
As a very young child, I knew I wanted to sing. Hannah Montana was my role model, and I sang karaoke with my dad at every party. Furthermore, for this pageant, I decided to incorporate my love for singing and my platform into my talent by singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from Carousel. The song is beautiful, and the lyrics incorporate all that my platform strives to advocate.

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?
I was so fortunate to have been in a pageant and win a local title. I’ve gained so many skills that will be helpful for my future and friends that I’ll never forget. I advise anyone who wants to start competing to take as much as you can from the experience rather than focusing on the aspect of competing. Just being a part of the organization and going through a pageant has allowed for me to foresee what I’m capable of and to work on being the best version of myself that I can be, and I hope everyone can have this amazing experience 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?
Being a part of the Miss America organization is such an honor and an amazing opportunity. I’ve gained public speaking skills, poise, confidence, and the camaraderie of wonderful young women. I’m given opportunities to share my talents and passions. It’s so much more than the stereotype, and I hope all can learn this and gain from it as I did.

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?
I hope that the winner of Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen can be a leader. I hope she can represent what this pageant tries to instill in girls by being a role model for the young ladies in our community. We need our youth to become stronger and more confident because we can and we will do amazing things if we decide to make it happen. We can make the future bright.

Bravura is an artistic word for exceptional. Tell our readers what make you “bravura.”
What makes me bravura is my determination to empower the youth of my community. I am optimistic that our generation can overcome any obstacle if they harness their abilities and combine them with never ending passion and perseverance. Furthermore, I try to be a motivational leader through my everyday activities, so that everyone can see that they are capable of so many accomplishments. This indomitable spirit that I use to conduct my life is what I believe to be the essence of what makes me bravura.

Where can fans follow you on social media?
Instagram: elaine_ficarra, Facebook: Elaine Ficarra, Youtube: Elaine Ficarra.

Do you have any final words for the readers of Bravura Magazine?
My motto is ​“​Smiles for miles!” Also, I would like to quote my Uncle Victor who has down syndrome: “Don’t give up!”

For tickets to the pageant, click here. To learn more about the MAOTeen PA pageant and current title-holder click here.