Miss Teen Volunteer America shares excitement as pageant approaches

JACKSON, Tenn. — The Miss Volunteer America Pageant will soon return for another week of pageantry.

Current Miss Teen Volunteer America, Anna Grace Loudenbeck, shares what’s she looking forward to.

“I’m super excited I think this is the first time that I get to enjoy being a national title holder, since I’m not competing, I can just take it all in. I get to rehearse and be with all the girls meet the contestants reunite with the former queen so it’s really exciting,” said Loudenbeck.

50 contestants will begin the competition on Sunday, June 15, in the hopes to be the next title holder on Saturday, June 22.

Chief Administrative Supervisor of Miss Volunteer America, Scott Hilburn, explains the behind the scenes magic of this competition.

“We became the Miss Volunteer America Pageant because we want young women ages 13 to 26 to have a heart for volunteerism and to share that with other young women in their peer group so that they will also volunteer in their communities,” said Hilburn.

Each contestant is required to demonstrate volunteer work in their community.

“An initiative that’s supportive to them that they campaign or use in their communities to bring awareness to something that special to them,” said Hilburn.

Loudenbeck says that this opportunity has helped her on a larger scale.

“I’m so excited I was able to launch into the partnerships with St. Jude and Salvation Army. As well as I’ve gotten to meet with American Red Cross,” said Loudenbeck.

She will also visit the nation’s capital under her initiative.

“So getting to do those opportunities as well as getting to work nationally with my personal platform which is food insecurity and Feeding America it’s just amazing that I have this platform to continue my work with those,” said Loudenbeck.

The first night of preliminary rounds will begin on Wednesday, June 19, at the Carl Perkins Civic Center.

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