Search is on for Miss Teen Valley Stream

The search has begun for the first ever Miss Valley Stream Outstanding Teen 2011, a preliminary competition for the Miss New York and Miss America Outstanding Scholarship Programs.

Young ladies between 13 and 17 years of age are eligible to participate, but only one winner will be selected — a lucky teen who exemplifies the strong ideals of respect, compassionate and diligence.

“The young lady who will represent the village is a teen that is very talented in the performing arts, knowledgeable about issues affecting teens and is able to articulate her opinion about them,” said program Executive Director Kimberly Thomas. “She is also someone who is active in community service, physically healthy and can charm the judges with her poise, presence and personality.”

Thomas, who participated in pageants as a teenager and has directed them since 2000, is very excited to bring the program to her community. Though she took some time off from pageantry to raise a family, Thomas has remained committed to her goal of helping and coaching young women not only to reach their potential, but develop stronger characters. “I enjoy the whole training process,” she said. “It’s a great feeling to represent your community. It’s my community and I want to give back. I have a heart for helping young girls to become better people.”

During this competition, young ladies will be taught a variety of skills including interview tips, etiquette training and how to walk and talk for the competition. Contestants must be a U.S. citizen, live in, attend school or have a parent that works in the village and cannot be a senior in high school.

An audition will take place in the coming weeks for the young ladies, who are expected to wear interview attire, bring a picture of themselves, and prepare a two-minute talent performance. Thomas is looking to find a dance studio to hold the audition, which will end with the selection of five to 10 contestants depending on how many girls try out. Those contestants will go through a series of rounds — talent, interview, and lifestyle stages during the competition. Contestants are required to wear physical fitness attire or active wear during the “lifestyle” round.

“It is not a full fledged pageant,” Thomas said. “Contestants do not have to buy an evening gown or any pageant attire.”

A panel of four judges, who will be chosen from the community, will evaluate the girls on how well they did in each of the competition levels. The top five finalists will be invited back for a final review. Working with tight time constraints, judges will choose a winner by mid-March. At least one first runner-up will be chosen in the case the winner cannot fulfill her duties, Thomas added.

The winner will receive a crown, banner and scholarship, which Thomas would like to be more than $250. She is looking into finding sponsors to get more money for the scholarship prize. Most of all, the winner will go on to represent the village during the Miss New York Outstanding Teen Scholarship Program from June 18-19 in Staten Island. All expenses will be paid for the trip.

Thomas believes the participants will improve their communication skills, express pride in their talent and abilities and gain self-confidence. “They will walk away with a better sense of who they are,” she said, “and a better sense on what they want to do with their lives.”