Bolingbrook's A’Maiya Allen Wins 2012 Miss American Pre-Teen Pageant

A’Maiya Allen, age 11, daughter of David and Sharon Allen of Bolingbrook, won the 2012 Miss American Pre-Teen Pageant at the National Competition held the week of Thanksgiving at the Hilton Resort at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

A’Maiya represented the state of Illinois as Miss Illinois Pre-Teen and competed against 70 young girls from all over the United States.

National Queen Contestants were scored on personal interview, public speaking and evening gown poise and appearance. National Contestants were also eligible to compete in non-required contests such as talent, speech, cheerleading, academic achievement, volunteer service, modeling, acting and photogenic.

A’Maiya opted to compete in the modeling and speech competitions. She took third place in modeling and won the National Speech competition winner with her speech “Say No To Bullying."

A’Maiya is a sixth grade A-honor roll student at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Plainfield, where she also plays the clarinet and runs cross country. She is a member of Rachael’s Challenge, and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.'s Emerging Young Leaders.

She is a member of Apostolic Church of God in Chicago, where she also serves as a junior usher.

A’Maiya spends a lot of her spare time doing community service projects such as Feed My Starving Children Organization, Ronald McDonald House, cancer and AIDS walk-a-thons, and speaking at area events to promote her platform “Say No To Bullying."