Miss. Maryland’s Outstanding Teen: Sarah Robinson

Sarah Robinson getting crowned at the state pageant.
Courtesy of Sarah Robinson
Sarah Robinson getting crowned at the state pageant.

 
Junior, Sarah Robinson spent this past summer preparing for and competing in the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Pageant in Orlando, Florida. After winning the title of Miss Maryland’s Outstanding Teen in June, she spent the next three weeks preparing for the national competition before leaving for Orlando.

Robinson has been competing in various pageants since the age of 5, most of them being through the National America Miss Organization. 2013 was Robinson’s first year competing in a Miss Outstanding Teen pageant.

Because of the age requirements, Robinson was not eligible to compete until the 2013 Miss Maryland’s Outstanding Teen pageant. Robinson was the youngest competitor that year, being only 14 in a group of girls aged 14 to 18.

This year Robinson went in more prepared and more mature. “I think this year was better because I knew what to expect and I wasn’t the baby of the group anymore,” said Robinson.

Robinson spent the months leading up to the state pageant preparing for the five phases of competition: the press conference interview, onstage question, evening wear, fitness, and talent, which was singing. Along with the five phases, Robinson created her own charity, called Students Lend a Hand. Her charity helped raise over 3,500 new school supplies for students in the Urbana area.

After winning runner-up in the Miss Maryland’s Outstanding Teen pageant in 2013, Robinson ended up taking the crown this year. “This year I was very self-motivated to win, compared to the first year I competed, which I believed really helped me,” said Robinson.

Unlike most states which are given three or more months to prepare for the national pageant, the winner of the Maryland pageant had only three weeks to prepare before leaving for Orlando. This, like the state competition required preparing for the five phases of competition.

In mid-July, Robinson left for Orlando to begin the week long rehearsals for the pageant. The pageant itself lasted a week and though Robinson was not a finalist she said the experience was incredible and that she is proud to represent Maryland for the next year.

“My favorite thing about the whole experience was winning a full tuition scholarship to the University of Alabama,” said Robinson.

Robinson hopes to continue competing in the Miss America’

s Outstanding Teen organization, where she hopes to compete in the next age division.

“I hope that one day I will be able to compete for Miss America, that would be my ultimate goal,” said Robinson.