Pageant season is underway for Miss America’s Outstanding Teen! So…what does that mean?! Local pageants are taking place until the big night – the crowning of a new state title-holder! We’re keeping you updated with all of the young women competing for the title of Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen 2018. The next contestant we’re sharing more about is Courtney Bearer, who is the current Miss Laurelwood’s Outstanding Teen 2018.

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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.
Hello everyone, my name is Courtney Bearer and I am from Rochester, Pennsylvania. I currently attend Lincoln Park Performing Arts School as a Sophomore dance major. I have been involved in pageants ever since I was 5 and this is my fourth year competing in the Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen Organization. At last year’s pageant I received the non-finalist talent and fitness award. I am so excited for this years competition, I know that I have worked extremely hard to prepare and improve myself. I hope that you all continue to follow me and my journey as Miss Laurelwood’s Outstanding Teen.

The four points of the Miss America crown represent: service, scholarship, style, and success. Which one is the most important to you and why?
To me service is the most important point on the crown even though all points are incredibly meaningful. The way you contribute to your community really shows who you are as a person. Volunteering is such a key aspect in my life as I have been participating in many forms of service since a young age. The service done by all in this wonderful system represents the Miss America organization as whole, and this is the point of the crown that can positively affect everyone.


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?
Through Maddy’s reign she has been incredibly hardworking, as a titleholder that is one trait that is most important. I hope that as Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen I would be just as determined and hardworking as she has been. I have seen how she has pushed herself and how much she has grown throughout this year. She as also worked to promote and live through her platform. Overall, Maddy has accomplished so much and has been a great state titleholder.

What have you learned from our current Miss Pennsylvania, Katie Schreckengast, that can help you be a better outstanding teen?
I have learned that Katie is an incredibly personal and passionate woman who is an amazing  role model for myself and many other young women. When speaking to Katie you feel as if you are the most important person in the world. She is full of love and confidence, and she is not afraid to be herself. She is truly an amazingly unique person and I aspire to follow in her footsteps.

Please share with our readers your platform and why you’ve chosen to advocate for it.
My platform is called Be Someone’s Sunshine and it is all about doing acts of kindness to brighten someone’s day. I chose to create this platform because I want to make a positive difference. I have realized how much negativity there is in the world whether it be from politics, current events, social media, or other issues occurring at this time. That is why my platform is more relevant than ever and any person of any age can take part in making someone smile. It is so easy to do an act of kindness whether it be complimenting someone, holding a door, or  paying for someone’s meal, any way shape or form you are helping defeat the negativity in our nation.

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?
As Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen I want to teach not only my generation but everyone how important it is to be kind. Being kind is taking for granted and is easily forgotten, so that is why I want to teach everyone to not just coast in life but instead to start a kindness chain and contribute something positive to our world everyday. I want you to imagine if every act of negativity was replaced with an act of kindness how much better our nation would be, but since we cannot change our past we must start to add more positivity into our lives and make a difference. I want to challenge everyone to do an act of kindness everyday and make yourself be remembered for something positive!


Tell us about your talent and the decisions you made in proceeding with this talent.
My talent is a hula hoop dance to “You Spin Me Right Round.” I started hula hooping when I was about 6 years old after attending the circus. I have been self-taught and have learned new tricks from Youtube and from experimenting in my backyard. I have combined my dance technique and hula hooping tricks to create a fun routine that I love.

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 highly suggest others to compete in this system, it is a wonderful way to strengthen yourself, learn many life skills, and to meet incredible people. The advice I give to all wanting to compete in this organization is to always be yourself and do not compare yourself to others because everyone is different and that is what makes you unique, so take what is special about you and make it shine.

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?
Media has put a negative connotation on pageantry that is not true and being apart of this organization I believe that we need to come together and break these stereotypes. We are to show the world that this organization is all about empowering women and making a positive impact on the world. These women involved in this system can show that we aren’t just a pretty face but we we are strong, intelligent, talented, and hardworking amazing young women who able to make a difference!

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 want the next Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen to make a positive impact on the world around them and to represent Pennsylvania and this system with poise and grace. I hope that they can make Pennsylvania proud through her reign and at the national pageant. I hope she will attend as many events as possible and leave a legacy as an amazing Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Bravura is an artistic word for exceptional. Tell our readers what make you “bravura.”
I believe that I am “bravura”, when it comes to my platform and personality. I am making a difference through my platform by making people smile. I am continually finding new ways to promote random acts of kindness that will brighten someone’s day. I also have a bubbly personality and have fun no matter the circumstance.

Where can fans follow you on social media?
Facebook: Miss Laurelwood’s Outstanding Teen 2018.
Instagram: courtney.bearer.

Do you have any final words for the readers of Bravura Magazine?
Thank you for taking the time to learn about The Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen organization and myself. I hope you have learned how beneficial this program is to young women. We are all striving to make a difference in our community while furthering our education through scholarship for our future. I hope that you follow me and my journey to Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen and remember if you can’t find the sunshine, be the sunshine!