TONIGHT: MISS OHIO'S OUTSTANDING TEEN PAGEANT!

Tonight the competition officially begins in Mansfield with the crowning of Miss Ohio's Outstanding Teen 2010. The winner will go on to compete for the title Miss America's Outstanding Teen this August in Orlando.

Fourteen young ladies from across the Buckeye state will vie for the crown currently held by Veronica Wende.

Veronica has been a fantastic titleholder, spending her year advocating Organ and Tissue Donation and the Green Chair "Do It Now" campaign. She is a recent graduate of Shawnee High school in Lima; this vocalist will attend Hillsdale College this fall. She has interests in Biology and Musical Theatre. To learn more about Veronica, click here.

The contestants:

Contestant #1 – Emily Werling

Miss Scioto Valley’s Outstanding Teen

Age: 17

Hometown: St. Henry, OH

School: St. Henry High School

Talent: Vocal Selection – “Dreams”

Platform: “BCAUS” (Breast Cancer Awareness Using Song)

Pageant Past: competed at Ohio's Teen '09 as Maumee Valley's Teen and in '08 as All*American City's Teen

Contestant #2 – Kaitlin Craig
Miss West Central’s Outstanding Teen

Age: 16

Hometown: Elida, OH

School: Elida High School

Talent: Dance Selection – “You Can’t Stop The Beat”

Platform: “Seatbelt Safety”

Pageant Past: unknown

Contestant #3 – Cecili Weber

Miss Portsmouth’s Outstanding Teen

Age: 15

Hometown: Ironton, OH

School: St. Joseph Central Catholic

Talent: Ballet En Point – “Overture From My Fair Lady”

Platform: H.E.A.R.T Helping-Expressing-Achieving-Reaching-Teaching In the Arts

Pageant Past: unknown

Contestant #4 – Sophie Carter

Miss Maumee Valley’s Outstanding Teen

Age: 16

Hometown: Perrysburg, OH

School: Perrysburg High School

Talent: Vocal Selection – “Greatest Love Of All”

Platform: “Breast Cancer Awareness”

Pageant Past: 1st RU to Ohio's OT in 2009 as All*American City's Teen

Contestant #5 – Megan Yocum

Miss Muskingum Valley’s Outstanding Teen

Age: 15

Hometown: Zanesville, OH

School: Philo High School

Talent: Clog Dance Selection – “Rocky Top”

Platform: “Volunteer: Make A Difference With Your Time & Talent”

Pageant Past: competed at SEO Teen 2010

Contestant #6 – Rachel Sharkey

Miss Southeastern Ohio’s Outstanding Teen

Age: 17

Hometown: Zanesville, OH

School: Zanesville High School

Talent: Jazz Dance Selection – “Replay”

Platform: “Volunteer, Make A Difference With Your Time And Talent”

Pageant Past: unknown

Contestant #7 – Chelsi Howman

Miss Mansfield’s Outstanding Teen

Age: 17

Hometown: Ashland, OH

School: Ashland – Crestview High School

Talent: Banjo Instrumental Selection – “Foggy Mountain Breakdown”

Platform: “Stop Bullying Now: Take A Stand! Lend A Hand!”

Pageant Past: Competed at both MOOT and Ohio Teen USA

Contestant #8 – Madeline Mason

Miss Zanesville’s Outstanding Teen

Age: 16

Hometown: Zanesville, OH

School: Zanesville High School

Talent: Vocal Selection – “Fireflies”

Platform: “Leukemia And Lymphoma: The Race For Ashley”

Pageant Past: Spirit award at Muskingum Valley's OT

Contestant #9 – Hannah Tumbusch

Miss Lake Festival’s Outstanding Teen

Age: 14

Hometown: St. Henry, OH

School: St. Henry High School

Talent :Vocal Selection – “Cowboy Sweetheart”

Platform: “Increasing Literacy In America Through Pages For Progress”

Pageant Past: unknown

Contestant #10 – Taylor Crowe

Miss Butler County’s Outstanding Teen

Age: 14

Hometown: Franklin, OH

High School: Franklin Jr. High

Talent:Jazz Dance Selection – “Stuff Like That There”

Platform: Promoting Healthy Lifestyles

Pageant Past: Former National American Miss participant

Contestant #11 – Mackenzie Denner

Miss Fallen Timbers’ Outstanding Teen

Age: 17

Hometown: Temperance, MI

School: Emmanuel Christian School Of Toledo

Talent :Piano Instrumental Selection – Chopin’s “Scherzo In B Flat Minor Opus 31”

Platform: “Feed Your Neighbor: Local Hunger”

Pageant Past: 4th RU to Monroe County's 2009 Teen (MI)

Contestant #12 – Jena Sweigert

Miss Grand Lake’s Outstanding Teen

Age: 17

Talent:: Celina, OH

Homeown: Celina High School

Talent :Vocal Selection – “Think Of Me”

Platform: Raising Political Awareness

Pageant Past: unknown

Contestant #13 – Kelsey Barrett

Miss Limaland’s Outstanding Teen

Age: 16

Hometown: Wapakoneta, OH

School: Wapakoneta, OH

Talent :Vocal Selection – “Here’s Where I Stand”

Platform: “NoBody’s Perfect” (How Media Impacts Young Women’s Self Esteem & Body Image).

Pageant Past: 2nd RU and Talent winner at Ohio's Teen '09 as Grand Lake's Teen and 2nd RU at Ohio's Teen '07 as West Central's Teen. Yes, her older sister is former Miss Contestant, Jessica Barrett.

Contestant #14 – Sarah Eash

All American City’s Teen

Age: 14

Hometown: Lakewood, OH

School: Lakewood High School

Talent: Jazz Dance Selection – “Feeling Good”

Platform: “Get Up, Get Involved, Give Back To Your Community – Make A Positive Change In Your Life”
Pageant Past: Competed at MOOT 2009 as Fallen Timbers Teen

Eight preteens will also vie for Princess titles. For more information check out the recently updated and completely fabulous TEEN WEBSITE.