In two months, 50 young women will be competing for the title of Miss America’s Outstanding Teen 2019. And next month, one lucky girl from the state of Connecticut will have the opportunity to complete for the title of MAOTeen 2019! Until then, Brooke Cyr is preparing to hand over the reigns to another young lady. We had the opportunity to catch up with Brooke for a special interview and learn how her year as MAOTeen CT was, and what life beyond the crown will be like for her.

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How does one balance a teenage lifestyle, title of MAOTeen Connecticut a high school career, and so much more at the same time?
I love being busy, being a varsity cheerleader, keeping up with school work, having the title of Miss Connecticut’s Outstanding Teen, and maintaining a teenage life. I did have to make some sacrifices along the way, but my coaches, friends and managers were very understanding. A lot of my days consisted of going to school, an appearance after school, practice at night, and homework when I got home. I definitely did not live a normal teenage life this past year, but it was always eventful and I learned many new lessons along the way.

Tell our readers a bit about how you prepared for competing in MAOTeen? What challenges did you face in preparing for MAOTeen?
When I was crowned Miss Naugatuck Valley’s Outstanding Teen in December of 2016, I had a whole plan for my next months to prepare for the state pageant. About a week after this pageant, I ended up in the emergency room, which turned into a much bigger obstacle than expected. I was in and out of the hospital for a couple months, having two surgeries, and leaving only about a month to prepare for the state pageant. I had lost all of my tumbling skills for my talent and had to relearn them within weeks. I was also able to raise over $4,000 for Connecticut Children’s Medical Center within a month. I even almost gave up my local title at one point because I didn’t think there was any way I would make it to the state pageant. But many challenges later, I fought for my dream and achieve every goal I had intended to.

What has been three of your most memorable experiences, while serving as MAOTeen for your state?
One of the most memorable experiences of my year of service was definitely my time at Miss America’s Outstanding Teen. It was a crazy week but experiencing it with my other 50 sisters made it the best week of my life. Stepping on that stage brought back all the memories of hard work it took to get there, and that was a moment I could never forget. Another amazing accomplishment was getting 10 girls involved in this organization and showing them what it can truly do for young girls. Since I began in this organization, I wanted to share the impact it made on me with many other girls, and this title allowed me to do that.

How have you striven to not only promote your personal platform, but also your national platform towards Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals?
I have been working with my platform, Stronger Together; Building a World Free of MS, since I was 10 years old. Bringing it to a state and national level this year was a dream come true. I have been raising money for MS research, as well as attending MS support group meetings and doing strength activities with them, making paracord bracelets. The national platform, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, has a special place in my heart. I was a patient as Connecticut Children’s Medical Center right before the state pageant last year, and what the hospital does for their patients is truly amazing. I raised over $3,000 in one month for the hospitals, as well as working on my goal of trying to get teens more involved in the hospitals, showing them what they are raising money for, and how amazing it is.


With the recent news which has been brought up in regards to the former Miss America Org. board, what do you hope the future of the MAO holds with their new Chairwoman, Gretchen Carlson?
The qualities that the Miss America Organization represents is what makes it so special. The only thing I hope for is for those qualities to be more publicized, to show people that this organization is the best thing for girls to shape them into the young women they can become. I believe the organization is in good hands and I hope the program will grow even more in the future.

It seems that we’re heading into a path towards women empowerment with these changes; what advice do you have for young women who are looking to step in to the Miss America Organization?
One thing I can say that the Miss America Organization has done for me is make me the person who I am. The best advice I can give to young women looking to step into the Miss America Organization is to not be afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone. Be open to experiencing new things, because you will find what is most important to you and become a better version of yourself.


Pageants, in general, are so highly criticized by so many people across the world. What do you have to say to those who speak negatively about pageants?
I believe people who speak negatively about pageants have never truly talked to someone involved in this organization. The Miss America Organization is the biggest scholarship provider for young women, and it change their lives forever. What I say to people who criticize pageants is to step into our shoes. These women are some of the most intelligent and successful young women you will ever meet. The crown and sash are all people see, but what truly matters is who is wearing that crown, and the hard work and dedication it took to have the honor to put that on.

How do you define yourself as a role-model for others?
I am not a typical teenager. I am sixteen years old, and I am an ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as well as Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. I may go to school during the week like a normal teenager, but on the weekend, I am serving my community and my state. As I have encouraged friends to come to events with me, they have learned to love community service as well.



What do you think is the biggest challenge which is facing the young generation of America today? And how can we work together to overcome it?
I believe the biggest challenge facing the young generation today is self-confidence. Too many of us hide behind phones and social media because fewer and fewer have the confidence for face to face interaction anymore, and very few are willing to speak in front of a crowd. The Miss America Organization can help with that, and give young women that confidence.


Now we are going to put a little challenge on you; we are going to ask you three of the five on-stage questions which were asked to the contestants during the Miss America 2018 pageant:

1. Maria Menounos asked: One hundred ninety-five countries signed the Paris agreement, in which each country sets nonbinding goals to reduce man-made climate change. The U.S. is withdrawing from the agreement, citing negligible environmental effects and negative economic impact. Good decision? Bad decision? Which is it and why?

Time will tell if it was a good decision to pull out of the climate accord.  It may help the U.S. in the short term with financial savings, but it could have long lasting environmental effects, and the costs associated with them, if the U.S. doesn’t do what it can to help the environment.  Pulling out also brought a lot of publicity to the issue, and that alone may be a huge benefit.  Many countries said they would continue to follow it, and so did many businesses here in the U.S.

1. Tara Lipinski asked: A recent poll found slightly over half of Americans favored leaving Confederate statues in place, while others want them removed. Keep them or get rid of them? What’s your vote and why?

It depends on the statue and where it’s placed.  People are against removing them because they say it’s an attempt at changing history or pretending that it didn’t happen.  People in favor of their removal argue that the statues are offensive to many people, and that they don’t represent what America now stands for.  The important distinction is if the statue is in a position to celebrate a person or an ideal, or not.  Not that I’m comparing any Confederate personality to Hitler, but to make the distinction more obvious, statues and representations of Hitler have been removed from public sight because that’s not what Germany stands for anymore.  However, they can still be found in museums.  It’s not an attempt to hide history, it’s an attempt to stop celebrating an evil person.  America no longer tolerates slavery, and those who fought to keep such a horrible practice should not be celebrated with a statue in front of any Town Hall.  The statues should be moved to a museum.

1. Thomas Rhett asked: Given the evidence that concussions from playing football can cause brain damage, would you support legislation that outlaws full-contact football in elementary and high school? Yes or no, and why?

Concussions don’t cause brain injury, it’s repeated impacts over long periods of time.  Unless we’re talking about players getting many concussions, and that would be negligence on the part of the youth league, I’m not sure if football at the elementary school level is causing brain injury like the CTE found in professional football players.  Regardless, everything should be done to make the game safer, perhaps with better helmets.  If we do find evidence that football at the elementary school level does cause CTE, then yes, we should consider legislation that requires changes to the game.

Now that you’re all prepared for the Miss portion of Miss America, what are post-MAOTeen plans? How long until you compete in the Miss pageant? What are your future plans on college?
Although my time in the Miss America Organization has been amazing and my past year is definitely the best one yet, I’m excited to see what the future holds! This next year I will still help out in the organization and support all the girls but I am planning to attend the University of Alabama in the fall of 2018. I plan to also volunteer in the Miss Alabama Organization but will be back in a few years to compete for the title of Miss Connecticut.

As you have a few years till you can compete again, how will you plan to prepare for your transition from the Teen to the Miss pageant?
I will prepare to transition from the teen competition to the miss competition by staying updating in social issues throughout the world and continuing to stay involved within the organization.  I will continue to help other teens as they become involved in the organization as well. No matter what my future holds, I will remain an active advocate for people with MS until we truly have a world free of MS.


What is one goal you have for the new MAOTeen Connecticut, which you hope she is able to accomplish during her reign?
I truly dedicated a lot of my year to building the teen program. The teen program has helped me find the best version of myself and I hope the new teen will continue that. I donated a teen crown to every local organization and raised enough money to give every teen contestant an individual scholarship at the state pageant! I hope the new Miss Connecticut’s Outstanding Teen will continue to support and help grow the teen program by achieving similar goals.

What words of advice do you have for the new class of contestants who are getting ready to compete for your title?
One piece of advice I want to give each girl is enjoy every single moment. Whether they’re just a local title holder or the new state title holder, every moment they experience because of that crown is a moment to remember. Not one appearance will be the same so take time to enjoy each one, take it day by day, and never take a single moment for granted

What words of thanks for you have for your director?
I could never thank everyone in this organization enough. They have all supported every single goal and achievement throughout the year and this past year would truly not be what it was without them.  Nakiya has allowed me to create my own year and goals. Her confidence in me gave me the confidence in myself to achieve so many of the goals I set for myself. She truly empowers young women to be independent, confident and successful.

Who else would you like to thank for supporting you throughout this journey?
I would also like to thank my family and friends who have come to every single thing they could, donated so much money to my many fundraisers, and have embraced my title, always bringing me new opportunities for success and everything I needed to achieve it.

Where can people follow you on social media post-reign?
They can follow me on Facebook.

What final words do you have for the readers of Bravura Magazine and those following you on social media?
My final words are:  Never give up on a dream no matter how many obstacles get in the way and no matter how impossible it feels.  Last year was truly one of the hardest years of my life. The journey to Miss Connecticut’s Outstanding Teen was definitely not what I expected.  No matter how hard it became though, my supporters never let me give up. Their advice was the best I ever received. I now live by the quote,” Dream it, Believe it, Achieve it.”, because I did!