As we get closer to the Miss Connecticut’s Outstanding Teen 2018 pageant, we continue our series, "The Road to Miss Connecticut’s Outstanding Teen 2018," with the next contestant, Miss Hamden’s Outstanding Teen 2018, Brayden Wihbey. This lively 14-year-old is ready to share not just with the judges, but our readers as well, why she should be the next MAOTeen CT!

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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 Brayden Wihbey, and I am Miss Hamden’s Outstanding Teen 2018. I am 14 years old and reside in Wolcott with my mom, dad and brother. I am a freshman at Holy Cross High School in Waterbury, where I am an honor roll student. I have been dancing since I could walk and a competitive dancer for the past 10 years. I was recently named Teen Miss Spirit of Dance and Teen Miss Energy Dance of Connecticut. This is my first year with the Miss Connecticut Organization, and it has exceeded my expectations. I have gained so much confidence, self-assurance and a new level of comfort with interview skills. I have also obtained knowledge in controversial political issues, women’s rights issues, and other important current topics of concern. I have learned to form my own opinions based on research and facts on each of the issues. I have also perfected the skill of walking in high heels, which was a monumental challenge for me. Thanks to this organization, I have grown as a young woman and have made lasting friendships. It has also given me a voice to speak about something for which I have such a strong passion — my platform, “Age is Just a Number:  Enriching the lives of Seniors.”

The four points of the Miss America crown represent: service, scholarship, style, and success. Which one is the most important to you and why?
While they are all important to be successful in life, I choose scholarship. The amount of scholarship money the Miss Connecticut Organization awards to young women is simply incredible. These scholarships help provide the means for young women to reach their educational goals.


During Brooke Cyr’s reign, what is one characteristic you’ve seen her bring forth as Miss Connecticut’s Outstanding Teen, and which do you hope to emulate if you were to win the title?
One of the characteristics that I most admire about Brooke is her passion for this Organization. She has promoted the Miss Connecticut Organization by getting a number of young women involved. I was inspired by Brooke to compete in my first local pageant. If it were not for Brooke’s continued support, I am not sure I would have had the courage to compete and be where I am today.

What have you learned from our current Miss Connecticut Eliza Kanner that can help you be a better outstanding teen?
I have learned so much from our current Miss Connecticut Eliza Kanner. But most of all, I have learned that the crown does not and should not change who you are as a person. I have learned that you should always be true to yourself and treat everyone with kindness. She is always willing to help me with whatever I need and is there for all the girls. She is a prime example of an ideal Miss Connecticut. We are very lucky to have her as our state representative.


Please share with our readers your platform and why you’ve chosen to advocate for it.
My platform is “Age is Just a Number: Enriching the lives of Seniors.” When developing my platform I thought about what I am truly passionate about, which is spending time with the elderly community. After brainstorming, “Age Is Just a Number: Enriching the Lives of Seniors” was created. The vision for my program is simple. We need to let our seniors know they are still loved, valued and appreciated. We need them to know that being a senior doesn’t mean they have to stop doing things they love. But that’s not all! Let’s not forget about the elderly in our nursing homes. I feel we can learn so much from their wisdom. Bringing them joy, purpose and fulfillment through regular visitations and creative activities brightens their day. My brain races with ideas for activities to stimulate their minds and lift their spirits. I even intend to teach them a little bit about the tech world in which we live.

My paternal grandfather had Alzheimer’s disease. Due to this illness, he had to spend over seven years in nursing care facilities. I learned that despite the best intentions of our family, the demands of life made it tough to make daily visits to visit my grandfather.

In creating my platform, I have learned through research that a crisis has developed for the elderly. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, nearly 60% of nursing home residents never have visitors. They spend their days, weekends, birthdays and holidays all alone. While becoming so intrigued with the crisis, I decided to visit a nursing home. While I helped brighten their day, I was enriched as well from their wisdom and their life stories.

If you were to win the title of Miss Connecticut’s Outstanding Teen, how do you hope to better educate your generation about your platform and the importance it holds?
If I am lucky enough to become Miss Connecticut’s Outstanding Teen, I would love to be known as the Outstanding Teen who enriches the lives of seniors and the forgotten elderly. I want teens to appreciate the wisdom that seniors possess, and I want seniors to view teens as thoughtful, caring individuals who share their time and talents. Bringing teens and seniors together will help to bridge the generation gap and help each group to enjoy each other’s company. As Miss Connecticut’s Outstanding Teen, my audience will be the entire state of Connecticut. I will be able to promote my MAOT platform at speaking engagements in schools, dance studios, and youth organizations. I hope to inspire other teens to become involved in their communities by my example of leadership and volunteerism. My enthusiasm will become contagious!


Tell us about your talent and the decisions you made in proceeding with this talent.
Since my family has owned a dance studio for the past 40 years, I pretty much grew up in the dance studio. My passion is tap dancing, but I also have a love for lyrical and hip hop. Throughout the years I have been honored to win numerous dance titles for my tap solos and many other prestigious awards with my competition dance team. I was lucky enough to compete at the World Dance Championships and place in the top 10. I’ve been in a Massachusetts based tap company called “Speaking in Taps,” danced with the Radio City Rockettes and studied with many great choreographers in NYC. Tap dancing is a big part of my life.  For my state talent I will be performing a Tap Dance to the 30’s rendition of “Miss Brown to You”.

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?
The advice I would give teens thinking about entering the Miss Connecticut Outstanding Teen program is “Just do it”! This program gives you the confidence to do things you never thought you could do!

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?
Unfortunately there is a preconceived notion of what a pageant girl is like, and before I entered my local pageant I had the same perception. After winning and becoming involved with the organization, I found it to be so much more! So many consider this organization to be a beauty pageant. Although it is about beauty, it is more about beauty from within. The young women are educated, inspirational and confident. They make a positive difference in society. They are smart, talented and well spoken. I am so proud and honored to be in this sisterhood and will use all the tools to achieve everything I put my mind to in life. My motto is to always “DREAM BIG”.

Regardless of who wins the title of Miss Connecticut’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 the title of Miss Connecticut’s Outstanding Teen I believe they should empower young women to reach their maximum potential.

Bravura is an artistic word for exceptional. What makes you a “bravura” candidate for Miss Connecticut’s Outstanding Teen?
I am an exceptional candidate for the title of Miss Connecticut’s Outstanding Teen because I am a leader and a people-person and possess the confidence and social skills to represent the crown with dignity.

I understand the issues that young adults face today. I feel that I can communicate and relate to teens and kids of all ages and have the personality to get along with everyone. Teens my age want and need someone to look up to–someone they can relate to, someone they see in themselves, someone who is real and nonjudgmental.

Where can people follow you on social media?
You can follow me on both Facebook and Instagram.

What final words do you have for the readers of Bravura Magazine and those following you on social media?
I want every young woman to know that they can achieve anything they put their mind to it. Never let anyone ever say that you are not good enough. Always “DREAM BIG!!”