The next contestant to be featured as part of our series, “The Road to Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen 2018,” is the reigning Miss Southwestern Virginia’s Outstanding Teen 2018, Madelyn Cosby. Though this is Madelyn’ first year being a part of the Miss America Organization, she is ready to bring her A-game to the stage on pageant night! Continue reading to learn more about Madelyn 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 Madelyn Cosby and I am 15 years old. I attend Southampton High School as a 9^th grader. I have been competing in pageants for two years, and this is my first year with the Miss America Organization.

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 point for me is service. Community service has been a huge part of my life from a young age and I want to spread the joy of giving with others.

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 that Isabella has brought to her reign as the Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen is her outgoing personality. I hope that, if I were to win the title, to be an ambassador to the Miss America Organization and be known for being friendly and outgoing.


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 to continue to support important causes in the community and to spread the message through social media.

Please share with our readers your platform and why you’ve chosen to advocate for it.
My platform is Relay for Life. I started my Relay for Life team called the Dream Chasers in September 2016 to honor the memory of a close family friend that passed away that January.

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?
I hope to educate my generation on the importance of staying away from things that can cause cancer and ways to reduce their risk.

Tell us about your talent and the decisions you made in proceeding with this talent.
My talent is vocal/ukulele. I have always enjoyed singing but I was missing something important – an instrument! I was gifted a ukulele for my 14th birthday, and I haven’t put it down since. Picking this as my talent was a no-brainer.


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?
Don’t be afraid to try it. Even if you don’t win the first time, don’t give up. I took a leap of faith and look where I landed!

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 believe that being a part of the Miss America Organization I show that there is more to being involved in pageants than a crown and sash. It is about bringing awareness to important causes and showing that inner beauty is more important than outer beauty.

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?
One goal that I would have for the new Miss Virginia’s Outstanding Teen is to be a role model to other girls and promoting the Miss America Organization.


Bravura is an artistic word for exceptional. Tell our readers what make you “bravura.”
What makes me ‘bravura’ is I started my own Relay for Life Team in September 2016 and have an annual charity pageant with queens that go out in the community and raise money for American Cancer Society.

Where can fans follow you on social media?
On Instagram, you can find me @southwesternvaot18.

Do you have any final words for the readers of Bravura Magazine?
You will never know what you can accomplish if you don’t try.