The next contestant to be featured as part of our series, “The Road to Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen 2018,” is the reigning Miss Mountain Laurel’s Outstanding Teen 2018, Jaylene Grace Batten. Having participated in pageants since the age of three, you can definitely say that Jaylene knows a thing or two about preparing for pageants! As she prepares to speak to the judges about her platform, “Project DEBRA,” continue reading to learn more about Jaylene 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 Jaylene Grace Batten. I am 15 years old, and a rising sophomore at William Monroe High School in Stanardsville, Virginia. I have been in the pageant world since the age of three. I have recently entered the larger pageant circle involving more areas of competition with the creation of platforms. I love to perform in pageants; it gives me the opportunity to be me and to meet new people while creating lifelong friendships and building my confidence.

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 point that is most important to me is service. This relates to my personal platform, what I feel so strongly about to make a difference in the lives of others.  I want to be a host for my community and a true shining example of giving back to my community, county, state and beyond.

During Isabella’s reign, what is one characteristic you have seen her bring forth as Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen and which do you hope to emulate if you were to win this title?
The characteristic I find most appealing about Isabella is her willingness to encourage and mentor her fellow Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen program contestants. In addition, her willingness to be readily available to her community and peers is another trait of Isabella’s I would like to emulate.


What have you learned from our current Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen, Isabella, that can help you be a better outstanding Teen?
One of the most important things that I have learned from Isabella is the importance of being active in your community by the representation of your platform. This includes always going beyond, setting the example for others by portraying what the crown represents even when you are not wearing it. It is important to be readily available to the community and abroad when requested for appearances.  Isabella looks at this as more than a beauty pageant but an opportunity to build a skill set that allows her to feel comfortable speaking or performing to people of all socio-economic backgrounds.

Please share with our readers your platform and why you have chose to advocate for it.
Platform: Project DEBRA. At a very young age of nine, I unfortunately witnessed a rare form of skin cancer that has allowed me to see firsthand and understand more than most youth my age, how skin disorders/diseases affect others. In the summer of 2017, I witnessed a Facebook post that has touched me in a unique way. The post was a page dedicated to a young boy named Jonathan suffering from what appeared to be skin cancer. The graphic pictures had me in tears thinking that a young child was traveling the same painful journey taken by my dear papa. Before reading the post, the graphic pictures brought back so many endured memories. In 2012, my papa lost his courageous battle of a very rare skin disease. I have a unique perspective, which has allowed me to have a better understanding of children with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). This has given me the ability to sharpen my skills and techniques in helping those suffering with any skin related illness, those such as EB.  It is so encouraging to know that I can make a difference in the lives of those suffering with EB.

If you were to win title of Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen, how do you hope to better educate your generation about your platform and the importance it holds?
As Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen, I want people in the community to know both locally and statewide that I have and can make a difference in the lives of those who are suffering with and have ongoing challenges with EB. I will continue to market the Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen through fundraisers such as bake sales, raffles, spreading awareness by handing out DEBRA brochure /cards, Live Radio Broadcast and donation collections. I intend to continue my efforts to bring awareness to DEBRA by attending or volunteering at a DEBRA hosted event to bring forth more valuable information to share in my local community. DEBRA has influenced me in such as inspiring way that my efforts to bring awareness outside of pageantry will be a lifelong commitment.


Tell us about your talent and the decisions you made in proceeding with this talent.
My talent is traditional style clogging. My mom was a clogger for over 20 years and I loved the beauty of her footwork when she was performing. I started beginner clogging lessons at the age of seven and have worked my way to an advance clogger with the High Horse Clogging group in Stanardsville, Virginia.  I chose clogging as my talent because it is my passion, it is unique, and I love to get the audience engaged with beauty of my energetic footwork.

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?
It is all about your platform. You should choose a cause that you can volunteer your time to bring awareness or raise money for.  Or, you can implement a program that you are involved in or created to address a problem. There are so many needs in the world today that finding a cause you feel passionate about in your community is just a matter of looking around you. In our society, the media and public are drawn to people who hold titles. As a titleholder, you can use this to your advantage to get your message out in a bigger way if you are prepared and ready to promote.

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?
This ties back to service and your platform. I would like to think I could break that barrier by actively doing what I think about doing so often, making a difference.  The media and television networks will give you respect and value you more when you hold and represent the Commonwealth area with poise, service and grace.

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?
My goal and hope for the winner of Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen is to continue and support what is important to them…continuing to promote their platform to bring awareness to their cause both locally and beyond.

Bravura is an artistic word for exceptional. Tell our readers what make you “Bravura.”
My dedication to my platform and community service makes me Bravura. It gives me the opportunity to be in the community sharing my passion and influencing positive change in my community all while promoting my title. I believe strongly in community service and the pageant experience for me has been a phenomenal venue to teach me the importance of serving others to make a difference.

Where can cans follow you on social media?
Follow my pageant journey on Facebook with username is: Jaylene Batten.

Do you have any final words for the readers of Bravura Magazine?
REMEMBER to be successful, you must choose a platform you are familiar with, passionate about and is near and dear to your heart.  Always SMILE, be yourself, have confidence and most importantly, Love yourself!