Kianna Healy, 17, Miss South Dakota’s Outstanding Teen, is in Orlando, Florida, rehearsing and preparing for the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Competition which takes place this week (July 28-30, 2021). The competition is being held at Universal Studios Orlando. Contestants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia are vying for the title and job of Miss America’s Outstanding Teen 2021, as well as tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships.
Healy entered her first local pageant competition to help overcome her shyness and get outside of her comfort zone. At that first competition (Miss Siouxland 2019), she actually texted her mom, asking her to come pick her up because she was so intimidated. Her mom reminded her why she was doing the competition, and Healy now says she is glad she finished the competition. “I stayed and met some amazing friends I still have today. It was an amazing experience and it definitely helped me become more confident in myself.” Healy won the title of Miss Rolling Plains Outstanding Teen at that competition, and went on to compete at the state competition, which was delayed for one year because of COVID.
In the short month and a half since Healy was crowned on June 6, she has been focused on getting ready for the national competition. “It was crazy! Almost every day I was doing something different to prepare,” Healy said, “Along the way, I did get to meet awesome people that helped me get ready and I honestly could not have done it without them.” Preparations included working on her Broadway vocal style talent piece, “I’m A Star” by Scott Alan and polishing her social impact initiative, which is “Music 4 Life” – encouraging people of all ages to indulge in music in any shape or form, to better understand and explore emotions, and learn to cope with physical and mental pain.
While the candidates are normally at the national competition for about a week and half, the time period has been shortened this year because of COVID. The candidates arrived in Orlando on Sunday, and competition will begin on Wednesday.
“It is going to be a busy week,” Healy said, ”We start off having lunch with all the girls to introduce ourselves. From there, we will shoot a little film for the competition, and then it’s rehearsals! There will be 3 nights of competition starting on Wednesday. On Wednesday, I will have my private interview with the judges, fitness and lifestyle, and onstage question. Thursday, I will perform my talent, and Friday is finals night.” Healy says she is most excited for the “after party” which will be held at the conclusion of the competition, at Harry Potter World at Universal Studios.
You can follow along with Healy and see photos from the competition in Orlando on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/
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