The next contestant to be featured as part of our series, “The Road to Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen 2018,” is the reigning Miss River City’s Outstanding Teen 2018, Ainsley Proctor. Three year ago, Ainsley competed in her first pageant as a pre-teen and she has never looked back! She is ready to sing her way into the hearts of the judges in a few days! Continue reading to learn more about Ainsley and her journey to 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 competed in my first pageant in 2015 as a preteen. My voice teacher had coached many girls competing in the Miss Virginia Organization over the years, and she encouraged me to give it a try. I’m glad I did!

The four points of the Miss America crown represent: service, scholarship, style, and success. Which one is the most important to you and why?
Every point has significance. They all come together to make a young woman well rounded. If I had to choose just one, I would focus on success, because you can’t have the other points without success.

Through participation in the MAOTeen program, I’ve had so many experiences I would not otherwise have had. Through my platform, I’ve helped to enhance services to so many students throughout Virginia. I’ve improved my public speaking skills and honed my talents. I’ve been more focused on succeeding in school, and learned how to balance academics with school activities and community service. I had an opportunity to participate in the Virginia Senate Page Program. All of this has contributed to my personal growth and success. Being a part of the MAOTeen program has been so rewarding.


During Isabella’s reign, what is one characteristic you’ve seen her bring forth as Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen, and which do you hope to emulate if you were to win the title?
Compassion! Isabella is loving and kind to everyone she meets. She takes her job as Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen seriously, and she’s been an amazing role model during her reign.

What have you learned from our current Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen, Isabella, that can help you be a better outstanding teen?
Isabella has taught me the importance of being at ease with public speaking. She is always poised and well-spoken. She takes the time to get to know who her audience will be ahead of time. I think that makes a big difference in how effective she is as a public speaker.

Please share with our readers your platform and why you’ve chosen to advocate for it.
My platform is “Defying Dyslexia.” I was diagnosed with dyslexia in 2nd grade  I soon realized that many teachers in Virginia’s public school system do not know anything about dyslexia, even though it affects 1 in 5 students and can be remediated with proper intervention. I also learned that Virginia’s public schools don’t provide appropriate screening or interventions for dyslexia.

Because of this, I am an advocate for dyslexia awareness and law reform to improve services to dyslexic students in Virginia’s public schools. I’ve promoted dyslexia awareness in the Virginia Beach school system since 2015, and it has received great support from our school board.  Since 2016, have annually visited the Virginia General Assembly, asking for support of bills to improve services to dyslexic students. I was able to tell legislators about my own experiences with dyslexia and my sincere desire to help other students struggling with this learning disability. Several bills have been passed and more are in the works. Things are finally turning around for students with the most common learning disability!


If you were to win the title of Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen, how do you hope to better educate your generation about your platform and the importance it holds?
Dyslexia is the most common learning disability, affecting 1 in 5 students. If you don’t have dyslexia, you know someone who does! It is often assumed that people with dyslexia are not smart, and will never excel in life. In reality, dyslexic people often have higher IQs than the average person. Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein and Henry Ford all had dyslexia. The list of brilliant dyslexics who changed our world is endless! If you have dyslexia, do not for one second believe that you cannot be successful in life!

Tell us about your talent and the decisions you made in proceeding with this talent.
I really enjoy musical theater. My talent piece is a vocal from a popular Broadway musical. Whenever I choose my talent pieces, I always strive for something fun and entertaining.

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?
My advice would be to just be yourself and have fun! If you don’t win a title at your first pageant, don’t give up. Every pageant is a learning experience, and a new opportunity to make friends.


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?
I do not put the Miss America Organization into the same category as other pageants. First and foremost, the Miss America Organization is a scholarship organization that promotes higher education among young women. As someone who participates in the MAOTeen program, I am able to exemplify that our participants must have superior interview and public speaking skills. They must excel academically and be aware of current events. They must give of their time to community service and also to promoting their platform. The MAO and MAOTeen programs are so much more than gowns and crowns!

Regardless of who wins the title of Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen, what is one goal which you have for them, which you hope they will accomplish during their reign?
I would want the winning titleholder to positively change the lives of others, especially young women her age. That is my personal goal as a titleholder — to tell my story of how I went from a shy little girl with no self-confidence to an independent young woman ready to take on the world!



Bravura is an artistic word for exceptional. Tell our readers what make you “bravura.”
I was once a standoffish little girl with low self-esteem. Today I am confident and eager to help others. I am leaving a legacy of helping to make changes that will improve services to Virginia’s students for generations to come.

Where can fans follow you on social media?
Instagram: Ainzwe.

Do you have any final words for the readers of Bravura Magazine?
I can’t say enough about the MAOTeen program. It changed my life. Crown or no crown, I am a better person because of my experiences with this program.