The next contestant to be featured as part of our series, “The Road to Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen 2018” is the reigning Miss Commonwealth’s Outstanding Teen 2018, Coco Arends. This is Coco’s first time taking part in a pageant and she is eager to learn and bring forth her best on the Miss VAOT pageant in the coming weeks! Continue reading to learn more about Coco and her journey to the crown!

Tweet

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 Coco Arends and I’m your Miss Commonwealth’s Outstanding Teen. This is my first year participating in pageants, and I absolutely love it! I’m so humbled and honored to be competing for my dream job!

The four points of the Miss America crown represent: service, scholarship, style, and success. Which one is the most important to you and why?
I think that all points of the crown are equally important in their own ways, but my favorite would have to be service. I chose service because it goes back to my platform, “Volunteerism: Strengthening Communities.” I love giving my time and talents to help others and my community!

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?
One characteristic out of the many that I’ve seen Isabella bring forth would be poise. I think everyone who meets Isabella can agree that she is a beautiful, polite, graceful and caring.


What have you learned from our current Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen, Isabella, that can help you be a better outstanding teen?
I have learned so much from Isabella because it is my first year in pageants. She is a role model to me because she is warm and kind, and brings a sense of welcoming wherever she goes.  She inspires me to always be the best person I can be.

Please share with our readers your platform and why you’ve chosen to advocate for it.
My platform is “Volunteerism: Strengthening Communities.” I have been an advocate for volunteerism since I was four years old.  I feel volunteerism benefits the volunteer as much as those who receive help, care or donations, and becoming involved in service of others is easy. I enjoy seeing others smile because of my work and involvement in the community.  I love knowing that I am giving back and strengthening my community, while brightening someone’s day!

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?
If I am Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen, I will shine a light on service, one of the points of the Miss America Crown and promote the importance of volunteering in one’s own community.  I will speak at local schools and events, and work to set up local service days within those schools and throughout Virginia.  My generation is increasingly social minded and I want to harness that awareness and direct the energy of youth towards volunteering to strengthen their communities.



Tell us about your talent and the decisions you made in proceeding with this talent.
My talent is jazz dance. I have been dancing for 4 years now and it plays a huge role in my life. Dance keeps me in shape while having fun and allows me to meet people. I decided to use a fast, fun, and upbeat song because I love performing in front of others and hope to bring smiles to the audience with my performance.

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?
Give it a try!  Everyone in the MAO system had a first pageant and I have seen firsthand how helpful the pageant directors and volunteers are to newcomers as well as previous titleholders.  It really is a sisterhood and there are people to guide you every step of the way!  Not only do you get opportunities of a life time, you also meet wonderful people and develop lasting friendships.

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 think many people focus on style and I want to bring attention to the other points of the Miss America crown:  service, scholarship and success.  I think bringing attention to the service hours performed and money raised by the Miss America Organization will broaden the public’s understanding of the organization.  As a titleholder now and if I become Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen, I will ensure everyone knows that the Miss America Organization promotes service, scholarship and success and that’s where the true beauty of pageantry exists.

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 hope that the winner of Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen will bring attention to and raise as much money as possible for the Children’s Miracle Network! The Children’s Miracle Network blesses the lives of many.  Each year, the Miss America Organization raises more and more money for the Children’s Miracle Network and that’s a legacy that should never end!

Bravura is an artistic word for exceptional. Tell our readers what make you “bravura.”
Saint Francis de Sales said “Be who you are and be that well.”  I think everyone is exceptional when they are themselves and bring their best, and do their best.  Being able to see the unique and exceptional qualities in myself and in others, is what makes me bravura.

Where can fans follow you on social media?
You can follow my journey as Miss Commonwealth’s Outstanding Teen on Instagram @misscommonwealthsot2018. I post very often about all the fun I have as being Miss Commonwealth’s Outstanding Teen and all the work and opportunities that are a part of it!

Do you have any final words for the readers of Bravura Magazine?
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you are inspired to be true to yourself, to volunteer and to support and/or become a part of the Miss America Organization!