Introducing the Miss Teen USA Class of 2024

Ava is a sophomore at Auburn University majoring in Marketing with plans to pursue a career in Design. Ava is involved in Auburn’s Student

Government where she was chosen to represent her class in Freshman Forum. An entrepreneur and social media influencer, Ava has grown an audience of over 400,000 and represented some of her favorite brands. Ava was invited to New York Fashion Week by several companies and even wore a custom jumpsuit she helped design. Ava’s passions also include working with students with disabilities. She served as President of the PALS program working on opportunities for greater inclusion.

Rachael Mclaen is the first ever Samoa American to hold the title of Miss Arizona Teen USA. A high school graduate, she is currently in flight school, aspiring to follow in her father’s footsteps and pursue a career in aviation. Rachael very recently completed her requisite 115 hours of training and was awarded her Private Pilot’s License by the FAA! Her next step is completing 60 more hours to get her Instrument Rating to continue working towards her ultimate goal of becoming a commercial airline pilot. In addition to her aviation endeavors, Rachael is the founder of the non-profit organization Rachael’s Aoga Project.

Paige Gonor is an 18-year-old honor roll student that is set to attend the University of San Diego this fall, with a major in Communications. Aspiring to be a sports broadcaster, she enjoys Padres games at Petco Park and shares fun food reviews on TikTok with her sister. Despite starting rowing only four years ago, Paige is already a D1 athlete who was selected for the Olympic Development Program last summer. In her free time, she loves weightlifting and can bench more than most boys. Passionate about inspiring female athletes, Paige champions the message that “Strong is Beautiful!”

Ava is a rising high school sophomore from North Haven, Connecticut. As a high honor student, advocate, and volunteer, she received the

Bryan Donahue Humanitarian Award for her exemplary commitment to her community. She is an award winning writer who authored a children’s book to spread the important message of kindness, inclusivity, and acceptance. A passionate advocate, she founded Action for Animals to raise money for local animal shelters and promote recycling. Ava is beyond excited about her most recent partnership with Mystic Aquarium, helping to inspire people to care for and protect our oceans through conservation, education, and research!

Chelsea Chambers is a sophomore Broadcast Journalism major at Howard University. She aspires to become an Emmy-award winning

sports journalist and wants to create a mentorship program for aspiring young journalists. Through her #BroadcastHER Initiative, Chelsea highlights inspirational women who have achieved success in their career industries. Chelsea loves to support her community and is passionate about mentoring young women and teaching them to believe in themselves. She has volunteered with Race for Every Child, Ronald McDonald House, Happy Helpers for the Homeless, and Sasha Bruce House. In her spare time, she plays tennis, sings, and has been dancing for 17 years.

Making history as the first Afro-Latino-Asian American Miss Georgia Teen USA, Ava Colindres is carrying the torch for inclusivity. Her

Beautiful Differences outreach and mentorship program empowers young people to celebrate their unique qualities as well as the uniqueness of others. Additionally, as a National Honor Society student and a marine biologist in the making, Ava is often found swimming with whale sharks at the Georgia Aquarium, and fundraising for Let Oceans Live organization. Championing the unique beauty and value of all life, both on land and in the sea, Ava Colindres is making a way for all.

Aly is a University of Idaho Dean’ list student and nominee for the National Society of Leadership & Success. She is an accomplished

All-Star Cheerleader and a proud Vandal Spirit Squad Member. Aly is a sister of Delta Gamma, with a philanthropy of Service for Sight. She is deeply committed to serving her community, through the Idaho Foodbank, PanCAN, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and Real-Life Children’s Church. Her passion is sharing a message of self-love and kindness with children and young adults. In her free time, Aly enjoys wake surfing, going to the family cabin, concerts, and building Legos.

Aleah Dean is a White House Presidential Service Honoree and the founder of “Dare To Be You,” a movement encouraging people to

embrace their uniqueness. She serves as an Ambassador for The Dream Academy and works with Best Buddies and Special Olympics to promote inclusivity and combat bullying. An aspiring author, Aleah aims to share her adoption story to demonstrate the power of authenticity and resilience. She partners with local Girls Inc. chapters to inspire youth and hosts “Authentically Unleashed,” showcasing stories of struggle and triumph to remind viewers they can overcome any challenge.

One day, you will see Brilee Garrett in the courtroom, fighting for peoples’ rights. Her number one goal is to become a civil rights attorney. To prepare her for this role, she’s working hard in school and attends mock trials to get hands on experience. She’s very proud to be one of only 50 accepted into the Early College Academy which allows her to take college classes throughout high school. Brilee’s favorite book, “The Teen Girl’s Anxiety Survival Guide,” equips her to navigate her own anxiety and help others do the same. For fun, she enjoys dancing, pottery and painting.

Ava Watson champions women in aviation and community service. She is a fourth-generation pilot learning to fly in her Grumman Tiger. She serves as a writer and photographer for her school paper and yearbook, while also an active member of the NOLA 99s, an organization for women pilots. She plans to earn her commercial pilots license and a college degree in business and aviation and will one day own a charter service. Her philanthropic efforts since winning her title include raising $25,000 for the Morgan Rae Center for Hope which will provide services toabused and trafficked children and teens.

Sanjana Yendluri, Miss Maryland Teen USA, embodies cultural appreciation as her guiding principle. Standing tall at 5’10”, this

Indian-American economics student at the University of Michigan transforms her diverse background into a powerful platform for change. She earned a Business Associate of Arts degree before graduating high school, which showcases a drive she carries through every aspect of life. Sanjana challenges stereotypes and celebrates multicultural heritage using her platform. Her global perspective has been shaped by her love for traveling, volunteering in India yearly, and exploring 26 out of 50 states and 3 out of 7 continents, fuels her passionate advocacy for inclusivity.

Maddison is passionate about creating connections between communities and local law enforcement because both of her parents serve as

law enforcement officers! Through her local “Passport to Safety” organization she helps to teach children and families important emergency and safety lessons while building relationships with law and emergency workers! Maddison graduated Magna Cum Laude and stayed busy in highschool playing lacrosse and cheering. She is now looking forward to pursuing her marketing degree through Michigan State University! Someday, Maddison hopes to work on the social media marketing team for the Detroit Tigers!

When she was 13, Addie Carver lost her father, but dance saved her life. Today, Addie is the founder of Dance to Empower, a national

organization focused on Dance Appreciation, Education, and Awareness. Addie is living proof that your heartbreaking circumstances do not have to define your future success, and she’s made it her mission to inspire all ages to find joy in things much bigger than themselves to help them get through every hardship. Addie is also a dance teacher and choreographer, Beta Club President, UCA All-American Cheerleader, and the founder & CEO of her own social media company.

Kailey James Burress, Miss Montana Teen USA, developed B.E.A.R. Safety, an educational program focused on internet safety, with the

goal of raising awareness about the impact of online bullying on teenagers. She is deeply committed to illustrating the connection between mental health and inappropriate internet usage. Over the past few years, she has addressed more than 5,000 students nationwide on topics of mental health and bullying. Her efforts have earned her the Gold Presidential Medal for service on five occasions. At the age of 17, Kailey James founded Sun Chasers, her own business, and she plans to launch her own swimsuit line in the near future. An enthusiastic skier and hiker, she embraces the outdoor opportunities offered by Montana.

Courtney Clark, 18, is currently excelling as an elementary school teacher’s assistant. Her adventurous spirit and outgoing personality drive

her to embrace challenges that expand her horizons. Fueled by her passion for math and science, she is dedicated to unraveling the complexities of the world and supporting individuals navigating life with ADHD. Courtney’s vision involves pursuing a college education in educational psychology to establish an inclusive after-school program tailored to children with learning disabilities like Autism and ADHD. Her commitment to the Mark 10 program and The Just One Project, reflecting her family’s past struggles, is unwavering.

Julia Livolsi, 18, grew up in Glen Rock, New Jersey, where she developed a passion for surfing, skiing, and artistic expression through drawing. Her aspirations in news anchoring drive her academic journey as she prepares to join Newhouse at Syracuse University this fall. Julia’s commitment extends beyond her hobbies and studies as she is currently serving as an ocean rescue lifeguard where she thrives in challenging environments. Most notably, she fights preconceived notions surrounding disability stigmas through her podcast “Rise and Shine”. Growing up with a disabled mom and being her primary caretaker, Julia noticed misconceptions and a lack of opportunities.

Valarie Goorahoo was born in Brooklyn and raised in a Indo-Caribbean household in Long Island. To immerse herself in her culture, she enjoyed staying with her grandmother in Queens- where a large population of West Indian New Yorkers reside. After traveling to Trinidad and Tobago at last year, she witnessed the mistreatment of women in her culture. Promising to end the toxicity and help others do so as well, she decided to take action by healing herself. Her cultural identity, while making her strong, was the reason she wasn’t able to be her authentic self.

Jaycee Grace Parker, a 17-year-old from Minot Air Force Base, is the daughter of an Air Force chaplain and an elementary school teacher, and a big sister to two younger siblings. An honor student, cheerleader, actress, model, and competitive dancer, she aspires to join the Air Force as a nurse. Jaycee’s “Charms for Freedom” project combats human trafficking with safety symbol keychains. Inspired by her travels, she aims to spread awareness and promote safety. Jaycee is dedicated to making a positive impact in her community and beyond.

Megan Lamza is an accelerated sophomore at Oklahoma State University majoring in nursing. Her dream is to become a Family Nurse

Practitioner specializing in Aesthetics with hopes of owning her own Medical Spa. Dealing with exclusion and bullying ignited a passion within Megan for helping others to feel confident in their own skin. So, she created “Inclusion to Impact,” a national organization teaching the importance of uniqueness and diversity. Megan is a health and wellness advocate, community volunteer, and honors student. She strives to be a relatable teenager, and proof that you can achieve anything with dedication.

Elliot Oliphant is from South Park where she lives with her parents Joe and Sara-Summer, and her four siblings, Presley, Nolan, Beckett, and Keil. Elliot recently completed her freshman year of college at Shippensburg University, majoring in psychology with a minor in criminal justice, while also competing on the women’s volleyball team and the track and field team. Elliot plans to use her time as a titleholder to promote inclusivity and save space for her peers with intellectual disabilities, a cause she became passionate about after joining her high school’s Special Olympics Unified Bocce team.

Jules Marie Grass, Miss South Carolina Teen USA, hails from Clemson, SC. An honors graduate from D.W. Daniel High School, she earned over $100,000 in scholarships through dual enrollment and AP credits. Jules will attend Clemson University in the fall of 2024, majoring in sports communications with aspirations of becoming an ESPN anchor. Passionate about empowering women, she created EmpowerHer Sports to break stereotypes in a male-dominated sports industry. Jules has actively participated in Student Government, Beta Club, Interact Club, FCA, and NHS. A varsity volleyball player and national model for Dillard’s, Jules enjoys cooking, family time, and traveling.

As the executive producer of an Amazon/Roku Channel, Townsend Blackwell has her finger on the pulse of teen life today. Townsend

understands that today’s teens want to make a positive impact in society so she founded Volunteer for Lakeland, an organization that connects teens to philanthropic needs in their community. She is also a dual-enrollment student athlete with a passion for tennis who serves as a peer mentor for the St Jude Leadership Society and volunteers with Best Buddies. In her most recent venture, Townsend has capitalized on her love of fashion and launched an online clothing boutique.

Sofia Forrest-Turner, 18, is an unstoppable force, driven by her boundless determination and unyielding dedication to making a difference.

Overcoming the challenges of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, she founded a non-profit organization to raise awareness about this rare disorder. This fall, Sofia will embark on her journey at UC Berkeley, immersing herself in the study of marine science and integrative biology while showcasing her talent as a member of the Division 1 athletics Cal Dance Team. Proficient in French and Mandarin Chinese, she has not only achieved national recognition but has also established her own successful business, “Sofia’s Soap Lab,” empowering women to pursue entrepreneurship.

Julia Allen, a 17-year-old from Forest, Virginia, is a homeschooled rising senior with a passion for sports journalism. She aims to major in communications with a minor in Spanish. At 11, she created Color the World with Kindness to promote kindness and respect among kids and has distributed over 7,000 copies of her coloring book globally. In 2022, Julia founded Bella Mondo Fund, a nonprofit aiming to raise funds for publishing and distributing more coloring books. In addition to her 900 hours of community service, she enjoys Muay Thai, baking, cooking, and working out.

Olivia Travis, a 4.0 student on the President’s List at West Virginia University Honors College, is majoring in psychology pre-med with a  dance minor. Aspiring to work with law enforcement as a psychiatrist and criminal profiler, she is a member of Alpha Epsilon Delta, Helping Hands Club, Delight Ministries, and the Student Dance Association. Olivia’s life is a testament to the power of community service. She created The Prom Connection at age 16, which has dressed over 250 underserved students for high school dances. Her commitment to service initiatives in college further underscores her passion for making a difference.

If pageantry has taught Aubree one thing… it’s that age should never be what stops you. At 17, Aubree started her own clothing boutique “House of Cait” and took her passion project “Hearts to Hands” into action. She educates today’s teens on the ins and outs of volunteering through her educational Instagram videos, helping to bring communities together in the hope of building a better future. Coming up on her senior year of high school, Aubree is the president of Future Business Leaders of America and a fourth-year member of her cheer team, while maintaining an honor roll position.