You know, the young ladies competing for the title of MAOTeen NY this weekend are not the only ones getting ready! So are we! Our team will be at the pageant this weekend, bring you exclusive highlights post interviews, during rehearsals, behind-the-scenes antics with MAOTeen 2017 Asia Hickman, and so much more! But until then, check out the next contestant to be featured as part of our series: Grace Seybert, the current Miss Adirondack’s Outstanding Teen 2018. Continue reading to learn more about Grace 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 am currently sixteen years old and I attend LaFargeville Central School. Growing up, I always admired the titleholders who got to wear the crown and walk in high heels. They all promoted great platforms and they inspired me. I have always wanted to be that exact inspiration to our younger generation. Last year I held the title of Miss Heart of New York’s Outstanding Teen 2017, and I am currently Miss Adirondack’s Outstanding Teen 2018. So, I am fairly new to the pageant system.

The four points of the Miss America crown represent: service, scholarship, style, and success. Which one is the most important to you and why?
Success. I am a firm believer that through the use of the other three points, success will be achieved. Receiving scholarships, owning your own style and flair, and giving back through your service will make you successful.


During Asia’s reign, what is one characteristic you’ve seen her bring forth as Miss New York’s Outstanding Teen, and which do you hope to emulate if you were to win the title?
Asia is consistently giving back through her platform, I would want to work my platform and get my message across the state and encourage others to spread it as well.

What have you learned from our current Miss New York, Gabrielle Walter, that can help you be a better outstanding teen?
I have learned to always believe in myself no matter the circumstances, It does not matter how high I set my standards or how big I choose to dream, if I am passionate and put in all of my effort, I will achieve my goals.

Please share with our readers your platform and why you’ve chosen to advocate for it.
My platform is entitled “Love Your Veteran”. Growing up as a daughter of a Gulf War veteran, I have been actively involved in the American Legion Organization, through the Junior Auxiliary program.  Throughout this organization I have helped veterans and our active duty in a variety of ways. I have decided to promote ways for people to love and show their support for our veterans, because I feel they are not receiving the recognition they deserve across our country, I will stand for those veterans who are currently struggling. There should be no Veteran out there who is homeless, or hungry. If anything, they deserve our respect, and our appreciation for what they gave for our country, and for us to stand where we do today.

If you were to win the title of Miss New York’s Outstanding Teen, how do you hope to better educate your generation about your platform and the importance it holds?
I would speak on the importance of standing for our National Anthem, including telling them why our Veterans as well as our Active Duty deserve our support and respect.  Performing POW/MIA ceremonies in schools would educated people that there are more than soldiers who come home or are deceased. There are also those that are unaccounted for; missing in action, prisoners of war. During Patriotic holiday parades, poppies are passed out for a donation. Many do not understand the meaning behind the poppy. The red in the poppy stands for the blood that was shed. Poppies are still made by Veterans for Veterans in the state of New York.


Tell us about your talent and the decisions you made in proceeding with this talent.
My talent is Tahitian dance with poi. Tahitian is a form of dance using rhythmic hip motions and hand gestures to tell a story. Poi consists of weights on the ends of titers, that are swung in certain patterns. I am going on my 5^th year of Tahitian and poi experience, and I feel extremely confident when I perform it. It is really difficult, but I find it unique and it tends to keep an audience interested.

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?
Be confident in who you are, there is only one of you. Pageants may seem like a frightening thing at first, and the competitions may seem intimidating, but really everyone is there for the same reason you are. Each and every contestant is unique in their own way, and we all deserve to 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?
I am not just there to look good and show my talent. When I walk into that interview or when I walk across that stage, I am not only representing myself, I am representing a platform that I am passionate about as well.

Regardless of who wins the title of Miss New York’s Outstanding Teen, what is one goal which you have for them, which you hope they will accomplish during their reign?
I hope they get their platform across the state, and they make it well known. People across New York should feel just as passionate about their platform as they do.

Bravura is an artistic word for exceptional. Tell our readers what make you “bravura.”
I am deliberate; I am clear and persistent in who I am and where I am headed. I use each challenge life brings me to positively refine myself. This refinement keeps my life clear of negativity. Being deliberate keeps my pointed in the direction of my dreams, connected to my true passions and to living genuinely as who I am.

Where can fans follow you on social media?
Miss Adirondack’s Outstanding Teen 2018 on Facebook.

Do you have any final words for the readers of Bravura Magazine?
Being a part of this organization is truly amazing. I hope when you here “Miss America” you no longer think of it as an ordinary beauty pageant.