From the small town of Thayer, a mile north of the Arkansas border and just 25 miles southeast of West Plains, a star is rising.
Newly crowned Miss Missouri’s Teen Gracyn Rouse, 16, represents not only the Show-Me State and the southern Missouri region, but also her Oregon County hometown and Thayer High School, where she is a student. She will take that representation to the national stage in the Miss America’s Teen pageant later this year.
The daughter of Adam and Leah Rous, Gracyn Rouse was crowned Friday evening at the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Audrain County. Her previous title was Miss Southern Missouri’s Teen, representing the region headquartered in Houston.
Rouse, who performed a vocal number for her talent during the weeklong competition, also received a preliminary overall talent award as well as the rookie talent award.
As a titleholder, Rouse advocates for kindness with her Community Service Initiative “Kindness is Key,” which she will spend the next year promoting. For her evening gown, Rouse won a floor-length beaded, royal blue gown with a full train.
As Miss Missouri’s Teen, Rouse will receive a $7,000 scholarship as well as a prize package that includes the official crown and sash, wardrobe allowance, travel allowance, talent consultations and several wardrobe sponsors: The Royal WE, Serendipity and Natalie M.
Those joining Rouse in the top five were first runner-up, Miss Adrian’s Teen Bridget Caldwell of Florissant; second runner-up, Miss Kansas City’s Teen Camryn Crist of Moberly; third runner-up, Miss Gateway’s Teen Greta Clark of Eureka; and fourth runner-up, Miss Mid-Missouri’s Teen Josephine Kespohl of Columbia.
This week, Rouse begins preparations for the Miss America’s Teen competition, the date for which has not yet been announced. Miss America’s Teen, founded in 2005, is a sister program to Miss America and officers scholarships at local, state and national competition levels.
According to officials, the Miss Missouri Scholarship Organization is one of the largest providers of scholarships to young women in the state. This year, the organization will award $85,000 in scholarships between the Miss and Outstanding Teen programs.
Tonight’s Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen Class of 2019 received $29,000 in scholarships.
The Miss Missouri pageant concluded Saturday evening with the coronation of Hayley Leach, St. Louis, as Miss Missouri.
