Did you know that Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen 2017, Madison Dompkosky, was a recipient of a scholarship award, by Bravura Magazine, during the MAOTeen pageant last July? She obtained a $1,000 Ad Sales Award, because of our partnership with MAOTeen! It is just another amazing platform which the MAO organization provides young women with, to further their education. And this year, another young lady will have the opportunity to compete at MAOTeen in Orlando, and also have a shot at several different scholarships. One young lady vying for the title of MAOTeen PA 2018 is 17-year-old Noelle Schneider! Continue reading to learn more about Noelle 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.
My name is Noelle Schneider and I am 17 years old.  This is my second year as a titleholder in the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen organization.  I feel so blessed that I am able to share both my talent and my platform throughout this experience.  For my talent, I play a 40 string Lyon & Healy Prelude harp.  I have been playing the harp for 9 years.  I also am passionate for my platform, “Caitlin’s Smiles: Giving Smiles to Hospitalized Children.” With my platform I have partnered with the organization, Caitlin’s Smiles, which helps to make long-term hospital stays easier by providing over 15,000 “Bags of Smiles” and over 150,000 craft kits per year to children in over 90 hospitals in Pennsylvania and surrounding states.

The four points of the Miss America crown represent: service, scholarship, style, and success. Which one is the most important to you and why?
Of the four points of the Miss America crown, I believe that service is the most important to me.  Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.  This is to have succeeded.”  My community has been so very supportive to all of my dreams and aspirations in life.  They gave so much to me and by giving back, it allows me to help and aid them as well.

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?
During Madison’s reign as Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen, she always made a point to promote a platform so very close to her heart.  If I were to win the title, I would continue to promote my platform, “Caitlin’s Smiles: Giving Smiles to Hospitalized Children.” My platform is my passion.  Not just because I want to be a Pediatric Oncologist, but because I want to be able to aid children in hospitals across the state and hopefully the country.


What have you learned from our current Miss Pennsylvania, Katie Schreckengast, that can help you be a better outstanding teen?
Katie has always been a very outgoing person to all.  At every event, she always makes an effort to give everyone a hug and have a genuine conversation with them. Katie has shown me that no matter how busy you are, there is always time to stop, have a meaningful interaction, and show your gratitude to those that have taken time out of their schedules to support you.  If chosen to be Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen, I would emulate this characteristic as well.

Please share with our readers your platform and why you’ve chosen to advocate for it.
My platform is titled “Caitlin’s Smiles: Giving Smiles to Hospitalized Children.”  I have chosen to advocate and partner with this specific organization because of the meaning behind it.  Caitlin Hornung was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and spent the next three and a half years battling for her young life. Caitlin went through surgeries, chemotherapy, treatments, and hundreds of blood transfusions at four different medical facilities. Despite the tiring treatments and long hospital stays, Caitlin managed to keep a positive attitude by finding joy and creating art. Unfortunately, at the age of 7, Caitlin lost her battle with cancer. To keep her smiling spirit and memory alive, her mother, Cheryl, formed the non-profit organization, Caitlin’s Smiles.  Caitlin’s Smiles is very near and dear to my heart. It is also one of the reasons why I want to be a Pediatric Oncologist.

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?
If I were to be honored with the title of Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen, I would coordinate events for Caitlin’s Smiles with other local and state titleholders across the United States to bring “Bags of Smiles” to all Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.  I would also encourage my generation to collect supplies for craft kits such as Play-Doh, coloring books, and crayons.  As a result of collecting these items and expanding the reach of this organization, the lives of children facing chronic or life-threatening illnesses are changed by simply putting a smile on their faces.

Tell us about your talent and the decisions you made in proceeding with this talent.
Even when I was little I wanted to be different. Therefore, in fourth grade, I decided to play the harp.  I started out with a small Celtic harp and proceeded to advance to a 40-string Prelude harp by Leon & Healy. This year, I will perform “What a Wonderful World” by Thiele & Weiss, arranged by my harp teacher, Janet Witman.


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 main piece of advice I have for those who want to start competing is to just be yourself in every phase of competition.  There is no pageant “standard” in the Miss America Organization which is very different compared to others.  I would also advise to pick a platform that you are passionate about.  This way during the interview portion, you will be able to speak from the heart.

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?
In the media, sometimes being a “pageant girl” has a negative connotation.  However, what most media networks don’t know is that the Miss America Organization crown actually has meaning.  There are four points of the Miss America crown: Scholarship, Service, Style, and Success.  All titleholders of this organization also have a personal platform alongside the national platform of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH).  Once the media and television networks are educated about the Miss America Organization, the “pageant girl” stigma will be broken.

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?
The one goal that I have for the next Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen is to promote this fantastic opportunity.  This organization provides the opportunity to earn scholarship money, attain life skills, and make many wonderful friendships that will last a lifetime. I believe that Miss Pennsylvania’s Outstanding Teen should promote the organization so that it can thrive throughout many more years to come.

Bravura is an artistic word for exceptional. Tell our readers what make you “bravura.”
What makes me bravura is that I am just a normal teenage girl with big dreams.  I am not after the sparkle of the crown, I just want to make a difference in my local community and beyond.  I am ready and willing to put the work into this dream of mine and I hope to inspire others to do the same.

Where can fans follow you on social media?
Follow me on:Instagram: @misskeystonesot2018.
Facebook: Miss Keystone’s OT 2018.
Even follow my journey on my website, www.noelleschneider.com!

Do you have any final words for the readers of Bravura Magazine?
One quote that I live by is “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love” by Mother Teresa.  No matter what you aspire to do or to be, put all of your love and effort into it.