Terrific teens: Three winners will now compete in respective state-level competitions

Madeline Britton, left, is crowned Miss Texarkana Twin Rivers Outstanding Teen on Saturday during the 2020 Miss Texarkana Twin Rivers Competition. Shelby Ross, middle, raises her arms in victory Saturday after winning the title of Miss Texarkana Outstanding Teen during the 2020 Miss Texarkana Twin Rivers Competition at Pleasant Grove High School. Hollan Palmore, right, wins the 2020 title of Miss Twin Rivers Outstanding Teen.
Madeline Britton, left, is crowned Miss Texarkana Twin Rivers Outstanding Teen on Saturday during the 2020 Miss Texarkana Twin Rivers Competition. Shelby Ross, middle, raises her arms in victory Saturday after winning the title of Miss Texarkana Outstanding Teen during the 2020 Miss Texarkana Twin Rivers Competition at Pleasant Grove High School. Hollan Palmore, right, wins the 2020 title of Miss Twin Rivers Outstanding Teen.

Every competitor was outstanding at Saturday night's Miss Texarkana Twin Rivers Competition, but only three could take home the coveted crowns in teen categories.

At the Miss Texarkana Twin Rivers competition held at Pleasant Grove High School Performing Arts Center, three new 2020 Outstanding Teen winners were named: Shelby Ross as Miss Texarkana Outstanding Teen, Hollan Palmore as Miss Twin Rivers Outstanding Teen and Madeline Olivia Grace Britton as Miss Texarkana Twin Rivers Outstanding Teen.

These three OT winners will represent their respective titles at state competitions: Ross and Palmore in Texas, Britton in Arkansas. The Miss TTR competition is an official Miss America preliminary competition.

Shelby is a 13-year-old from Texarkana and Texas High School freshman. Her talent was a jazz dance to Michael Bublé's "Feeling Good." Her platform? She aims to raise pediatric cancer awareness, which has a personal inspiration to her because of her own experiences when younger.

"So my platform is very deep with me and I truly have such a passion for it," Shelby said.

What did she think when she heard "Shelby Ross" called as the new Miss Texarkana Outstanding Teen?

"I thought, is this real life? And I just realized how blessed I was and how thankful I was for my support group that got me here," Shelby said.

Hollan is a 14-year-old from Texarkana, Texas, who attends Texas Middle School. Her talent was dancing to a musical theater number, while her platform relates to cyberbullying: The Text is Mightier Than the Sword.

"As a young kid I was bullied so this meant a lot to me," Hollan said.

Her first thought hearing her name called as the winner? Like others, she was surprised.

"How could this be possible?" she said.

On the Arkansas side, Madeline hails from Hope but attends Texas High School. She also did a jazz dance to Michael Bublé's "Feeling Good." Her platform? "Think before you speak," she said.

How did she feel about winning?

"My first thought was I was extremely excited, and I'd been working very hard for the past couple months and the hard work has paid off," Madeline said. She worked on her platform and took weekly dance lessons to get to prepare for Saturday night.

Awards for the Outstanding Teen winners included flowers, a Miss TTR Organization Award and a wardrobe allowance.

On Saturday morning, younger candidates put their charming talents to the test and smiled their way across the stage during the Little Miss Texarkana Twin Rivers Competition.

Those winners were: Emory Jane Starks as Baby Miss Texarkana and Cataleya Faith Loza as Baby Miss Twin Rivers; Kate Brooklyn Vaughn as Tiny Miss Texarkana and Anna Ruth Anderson as Tiny Miss Twin Rivers; Malika Mae LaFaye Jackson as Mini Miss Twin Rivers and Calyn Raeleigh Cox as Mini Miss Texarkana; Leah Kate Glass as Petite Miss Twin Rivers and Carter Raen Cox as Petite Miss Texarkana; Avery Browning as Little Miss Twin Rivers and Londyn Little as Little Miss Texarkana; Macey Orr as Young Miss Texarkana and Addilyn Barfoot as Young Miss Twin Rivers; Isabella Burke as Junior Miss Texarkana and Kherington Grey Lyda as Junior Miss Twin Rivers; Cadence Lynn Heath as Pre-teen Miss Twin Rivers and Claire Elizabeth Hodge as Pre-teen Miss Texarkana.

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