Pageant News Bureau -Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2007

OK, first a confession. We may never get used to that MAO abbreviation. And the full name of the pageant, Miss America's Outstanding Teen, is a mouthful. (You might call it a "MAOthful.") So instead of talking about the pageant's name, let's just talk about the pageant.

This was Year 2 of the event, which PNB has dubbed the "younger sister" of Miss America. It's affiliated with Miss America, but it's younger in history and younger in contestant ages. And once again, the pageant was held in Florida, which not coincidentally is the youngest state on America's East Coast (admitted to the Union in 1845).

Maria De Santis is crowned by Meghan Miller.

Nina Davuluri, Michigan, first runner-up

Maria De Santis

In the prim tradition of Miss America, this teen event is a little less "worldly" than some pageants for girls the same age. It's not drab, it's not dull, but it doesn't have swimwear. It has sportswear instead. But sportswear can look smashing on the right young lady.

(By the way, we know the prim tradition of Miss America is fading. And we know swimming is a sport, so a swimsuit is sportswear. In fact, we know everything. But that's another story.)

From left, Maria De Santis, the top 10, and Brittany Young of Virginia, the second runner-up.

Above, a grand production number starring Meghan Miller, Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2006. At right, Leah Beth Bolton of Tennessee rocked the auditorium with her tap number.

The winner was Maria De Santis, the representative from New York. She was also a preliminary talent winner. The first runner-up was Nina Davuluri of Michigan, a preliminary evening gown winner. The second runner-up was Brittany Young of Virginia, another preliminary talent winner. The third runner-up was Leah Beth Bolton of Tennessee, a preliminary evening gown and sportswear winner. The fourth runner-up was Dorothy Shepard of Arkansas, a preliminary evening gown and sportswear winner.

We've told you so much, and we haven't mentioned the name of the pageant again. But you'll remember it. That was our plan all along.