WILTON — Valerianne Hinkley was crowned Miss Teen Maine International 2018 on April 22 at the Crooker Theater in Brunswick. She will compete at the Miss Teen International Pageant, July 26 to 28 in Charleston, West Virginia.
The 16-year-old is a sophomore at Mt. Blue High School in Farmington. Her parents are Scott Hinkley, Jennie Bouchard-Young and step-dad Brian Young, all of Wilton.
Valerianne said she participated in her first pageant last November.
“It was really fun. It made me want to do more,” she said.
Valerianne decided to switch to the Miss Teen International program because it was more focused on platforms rather than beauty.
She said the pageant consisted of five-minute interviews with five different judges on Saturday. Sunday’s opening introduced the contestants while wearing fitness wear.
“It was to show confidence in yourself,” Valerianne said.
Those competing for Miss Teen Maine and Miss Maine then appeared in fun fashion wear.
“It was another get-to-know-you activity. It showed how fit we were, how to have fun,” she said.
After a short intermission it was time for the evening gown presentation.
“We were judged on our elegance and confidence,” she said.
According to the program’s website, https://www.missteeninternational.us/miss-teen-international-pageant.php#A, “The interviews account for 40 percent. Evening gown, fitness and fun fashion wear are each worth 20 percent toward the total score.
“The Miss Teen International Competition® has been developed to promote today’s teens, ages 13-18, and their accomplishments. Each contestant has the opportunity to select a platform of her choice that she spends the year promoting.”
Valerianne’s platform is “Be Bold Stand Up to Bullying.”
She has met with the Civil Rights Team at Cascade Brook School in Farmington. She hopes to present her message to students at other area schools.
Valerianne will be riding on the Wilton Fire Department’s ladder truck during the Wilton Blueberry Festival parade. She will be at the Moxie Festival this July in Lisbon and the Western Maine Play Museum opening in Wilton.
Valerianne has donated toys and activity books to the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland. She and her mother made several hats that were given to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Valerianne is part of the student council at Mt. Blue High School. She cheered for the football team and was on the competition cheerleading team this winter.
Valerianne said she has a great passion for reading and writing. She plans to become an English teacher.
She said her eighth grade teacher, Miss Simpson, put her on that path by getting everyone involved.
“I want to make English interesting for kids. A lot of students are bored with English classes,” Valerianne said.
She has spent a lot of time on the University of Maine at Farmington campus. She spent three days there last summer for Upward Bound and hopes to be able to attend the full six weeks this year.
Valerianne said, “I’m an adventurous person. I want to try something farther than UMF for college.”
pharnden@sunmediagroup.net
Valerianne Hinkley of Wilton was recently crowned Miss Teen Maine International 2018. She will compete in the Miss Teen International pageant, July 26-28 in Charleston, West Virginia. (Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser)
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