The next contestant to be featured as part of our series, “The Road to Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen 2018” is the reigning Miss Greater Franklin's County Outstanding Teen 2018, Kelley Anne Pickurel. Having been involved in pageants since the age of 7. Kelley Anne is ready to show the judges what she’s got to make it to the top of the Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen pageant! Continue reading to learn more about Kelley Anne 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 began pageants at the age of 7. I completely fell in love and have been doing them ever since. I am currently a sophomore who challenges herself in everything she does especially school. I am a competitive dancer and have been dancing for 12 years at many places including Joffrey Ballet School in NYC.

The four points of the Miss America crown represent: service, scholarship, style, and success. Which one is the most important to you and why?
The most important one to me is success because I feel that if you succeed then nothing can stop you and in order to have that success you have to work hard and push yourself out side of your comfort zone and prevail through hard times.


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?
She has most definitely brought confidence. She loves herself, and she shows that once you own your confidence, then you can truly accomplish anything. I hope to bring this same characteristic if I were to win the title because it is so important to push that message through to young girls.

What have you learned from our current Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen, Isabella, that can help you be a better outstanding teen?
To never give up and hard work truly pays off.

Please share with our readers your platform and why you’ve chosen to advocate for it.
My platform is Suicide Awareness. I had a person whom I loved very much threaten suicide and it was a very scary time in my life.  This family member has battled depression throughout their teenage years, and I wanted to bring this topic out into the open.  This is an issue that crosses all walks of life but is kept in the dark due to fear of what people will say.


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?
Teens feel alone and do not think that there is anyone out there who understands what they are going through. I want to bring this topic out to the forefront, and let them know that there is help.  I also want them to know that there are people who care.

Tell us about your talent and the decisions you made in proceeding with this talent.
My talent is a contemporary dance that portrays a girl in love and how love can turn you into a crazy nutcase. I wanted to show a fun side to myself and really show acting through dance.

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 want to encourage them to have fun and work hard as hard work truly pays off but you can have fun while doing it.


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 don’t fit the so-called mold of a typical pageant girl. I am a self proclaimed nerd.  I stay up studying to ensure that I get the grade that I want which is always an A. I think that the Miss America system puts a lot of emphasis on education and what is inside of a person.

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 they own up to the title and really encourage young girls to be comfortable in their own skin.



Bravura is an artistic word for exceptional. Tell our readers what make you “bravura.”
I put my heart and soul into my dance, and my education.  I also care about the world that I live in and want to make it a better place for the future generations.

Where can fans follow you on social media?
My instagram is Kelleyanne26.

Do you have any final words for the readers of Bravura Magazine?
Just follow your dreams and never give up because one day you will reach them and go beyond what you even thought you could.