Beauty, poise and well-drilled guile – at just 17, the new Miss America has crafted her persona to perfection, all while hoping for world peace
HER ROLE models are Abraham Lincoln and Mother Theresa. She wants to be president of the United States or Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
She believes that God has given her the opportunity to be Miss America so she can do good work and be a positive example for young woman, and yes, oh God yes, she wants world peace and will do what she can to be a positive ambassador.
Teresa Scanlan is the new Miss America and, at 17, is its youngest winner since 1937, setting the tabloid world alight and spinning Teresa and her tiara on a dizzying, perfectly manicured tour across the US.
Late last week, she appeared on The Viewand Fox and Friends, where presenters showered loveliness on her like confetti, followed by a meeting the next day with her corporate sponsors, at which time she and her Miss America handler, Julie, heard how best to synergise the product with "the talent".
So, Teresa, are you a feminist? Her face scrunches slightly. “I believe that women are powerful. But in terms of defining it, I don’t think I would go so far as feminist.” Julie explains outside the room that the Miss America winners are coached by headquarters not to say anything too controversial and not to be partisan. Teresa will never raise her beautifully tanned arms for Republican or Democrat – she will be a representative for all of America.
“I am 18 next month, so I will be eligible to vote,” says Teresa. “I will be registering independent, so I can vote for either party.” The answer is well-rehearsed, but as a home-schooled, devotedly Christian Miss Nebraska, it takes only a little bit of hammering before Teresa’s political core starts rumbling to the surface.
Democrat or Republican? “Well, I trend more conservative . . . but . . . (straining to switch off her inner Sarah Palin) . . . it really depends on the issue.”
A request to see the tiara prompts Teresa to get up, go to the next room and get it. “Sure, no problem,” she says, as if getting a cup of tea. The tiara comes encased in a tiny hardwood box that Teresa swings from its handle.
This was the turning point for me. Up till now, I found the rehearsed answers a little grating and the permasmile overbearing. But she could have walked in here with a retinue of heavies, PR flunkies, hangers-on and self-important media consultants. Instead, it’s just an excited 17-year-old, a tiara box and Linda.
“I want to be chief justice of the Supreme Court,” says Teresa, and the smile flashes back on like hazard lights.
I want to know if there are any female Supreme members she likes in particular, but Teresa’s perfectly bleached teeth are already moving.
She is talking.
“I believe that it’s very important for women to express themselves and be in the public arena. I think it’s important to have women in the Supreme Court because it’s important for women to have a political role . . .” Political role? Supreme Court? Wouldn’t that be a violation of the constitutional protections under . . . oh never mind. What did I know at 17?
Teresa Scanlan grew up in rural Nebraska, the middle child of seven children. An older sister competed in pageants, “so well, of course I was always going to follow big sister”.
She began at 13, simultaneously learning music, dance and public speaking, battling her way up through the Nebraska ranks. “It was so much fun!” By 16, she was in for the big one, the state Miss Nebraska title. She trampled all over it like a well-groomed, sexy Godzilla, and it was on to Miss America, where she slay all before her with her self-confidence, aspiration to be Chief Justice Mother Theresa-Lincoln and her winsome smile.
Doesn’t it get a little intimidating, with so many men out there suddenly looking at you as a grown woman and beauty pageant winner? Her eyes light up. The two words that send Miss America winners over the edge. “Oh it’s not a beauty pageant. That’s Miss USA.”
Wait, Miss America is not Miss USA? “No, that’s the major misapprehension the public have, and it’s one I would like to address by being a positive role model for all . . .” Miss USA is all about the boobs and the tan and is, as Teresa explains, “a for-profit organisation run by Donald Trump”. The last two words are said almost as a condemnation.
Linda is nodding. “We aren’t like that,” says Teresa. “Miss America is non-profit and the largest donor of women’s scholarship funds anywhere in the world.” Linda is nodding again.
“Basically,” says Teresa, picking up her tiara as Linda checks the time, “people think we follow on from those mini ‘toddlers with tiaras’ competitions for little girls, and we don’t. It’s very simply what we want. We’re about improving the lives of women and we’re making a better America for everyone.”
