When you wear the crown from the Miss America Organization, there is so much more that comes along with it. There are endless appearances where one is speaking about their platform. There are countless nights when you’re practicing for your talent. And this is all happening at the same time as balancing a high-school life. One such contestant in the Miss Pennsylvania Teen system is Alivia Jacobs. Continue reading to learn more about Alivia, what she’s learned from the current MAOTeen PA, 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 a high honor student at Bellwood Antis High School and am the Junior Class Vice-President, Editor of the Yearbook, a member of Forensics/Speech League (where I placed 4 at the Regional Competition), Key Club, LEO Club, and the swim and tennis teams.  I have been a participant in pageants for most of my life, (since about 7 years of age) and for the last 4 years have been a contestant in the Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen Program.  Since being involved in the MAOTeen Organization I have become a confident and well-rounded young lady.  I am able to interview for jobs and speak in front of crowds with poise and confidence.

The four points of the Miss America crown represent: service, scholarship, style, and success. Which one is the most important to you and why?
The most important one to me is service.  I am very involved with my community from being the youngest team captain of the American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Walk, to raising funds for the Central PA Humane Society, reading to a kindergarten class and of course being so involved with my platform The Jared Box Project, which fills shoe size plastic boxes with toys, games and stuffed animals.  These boxes are then delivered to local hospitals to be given to children who are sick.

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?
Her passion for her platform.   She has a great work ethic when it comes to promoting her platform.  I really want to be a title holder who is constantly striving to bring awareness to my platform and being known as a role model for other young girls.

What have you learned from our current Miss Pennsylvania, Katie Schreckengast, that can help you be a better outstanding teen?
She is passionate about everything that she does and is a role model to young women across the state of Pennsylvania. Not to mention she plays the saxophone to perfection. I really look up to Katie and my hope is that if I were crowned Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen, I would leave a legacy like she did when she was crowned Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen.

Please share with our readers your platform and why you’ve chosen to advocate for it.
My platform is The Jared Box Project. I picked this particular platform because it hits close to home for me.  Last year a good friend of my family lost their 7-year-old daughter to an inoperable brain tumor. My platform is about a young boy, Jared, who at the age of 5, was also diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.   Through it all he remained strong, funny and loved sharing his toys and passion for life with other children. Jared would always take a box of toys with him when he had to go to the hospital and he would share those toys with others. Unfortunately, in November of 2000 Jared lost his battle to this horrible disease, but his legacy of wanting to share his toys lives on through the Jared Box Project. These boxes are filled with toys, games and are taken to local hospitals to be given to children that are in the hospital.

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?
When I talk about my platform to others I want it to warm their hearts and bring out the best in them, so that they give of themselves.  I would want to explain to them that if they had a child that went to the hospital and was scared, wouldn’t it be great if a doctor or nurse could walk in with a Jared Box filled with toys and games to entertain them and take their minds off of their illness.

Tell us about your talent and the decisions you made in proceeding with this talent.
I am a vocalist and after listening to the song I chose, I knew that it was perfect for me because it is a strong and powerful song and I absolutely fell in love with it the first time I heard it.

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?
Just do it and never give up.  The first year I competed in this organization it took me 4 tries to win a local title.  With perseverance and the support of my family, I knew that I would win a title.  I have met so many wonderful young ladies through this organization and I know that my friendship with them will continue long after I am done competing.

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?
By getting out there and speaking about the great things that Miss America does.  For my Forensics/Speech League competition this year, I did an informative speech and it was on the Miss America Organization and I would love to recite that to anyone who thinks that pageants are just about a “pretty face.” The young ladies that compete in this organization, must be intelligent, talented, goal orientated women, who want to make a difference in their communities.

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?
That they leave a legacy of their own.

Bravura is an artistic word for exceptional. Tell our readers what make you “bravura.”
I think what makes me Bravura is my love for life.  I feel I am kind, sincere and always give 100% in everything that I do.  I am an honest person.  If you were to ask my friends they would tell you that I am a friend for life.

Where can fans follow you on social media?
Miss Central Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen Facebook Page.

Do you have any final words for the readers of Bravura Magazine?
One of my favorite quotes is “All About the Climb” from Miley Cyrus. I think that this is also a quote that the young ladies in this organization shares. You may stumble and fall, but eventually you will make it to the top of that mountain.  It may not be winning the crown, because at the end of the night there is only going to be one winner, one lucky winner that gets the crown, but all those other girls standing beside her worked just has hard as she did and now believe that they can make it to the top of the mountain in whatever they want to accomplish.
For tickets to the pageant, click here. To learn more about the MAOTeen PA pageant and current title-holder click here.