Teresa Scanlan may be paving the way for a new breed of Miss America contestants. Hailing from the small town of Gering, the Nebraskan 17-year old has the distinction of being the pageants youngest ever winner.
While other contestants chose to sing or dance, the young lass opted to render her own version of “White Water Chopsticks” on the piano. She also impressed judges by sporting a sleek black bikini during the swimwear portion of the competition.
Besting 52 other beauties, Scanlan takes home not only the crown but also a number of gifts including a scholarship worth $50,000. She plans to attend Patrick Henry College come fall.

Teresa Scanlan may be paving the way for a new breed of Miss America contestants. Hailing from the small town of Gering, the Nebraskan 17-year old has the distinction of being the pageants youngest ever winner.
While other contestants chose to sing or dance, the young lass opted to render her own version of “White Water Chopsticks” on the piano. She also impressed judges by sporting a sleek black bikini during the swimwear portion of the competition.
Besting 52 other beauties, Scanlan takes home not only the crown but also a number of gifts including a scholarship worth $50,000. She plans to attend Patrick Henry College come fall.

Teresa Scanlan, Miss Nebraska, was crowned the Miss America 2011 winner at last night’s Miss America Pageant. As one of the youngest Miss America contestants to ever compete in the pageant, Teresa Scanlan beat Miss Arkansas to take the crown.
Many young girls were likely watching the Miss America Pageant with their parents last night and looked on in awe at all of those beautiful ladies on stage. Now that Teresa Scanlan is Miss America 2011, she will serve as a role model to girls across this country. As the winner of a beauty pageant, is Teresa Scanlan setting a good or bad example for our youth?
The Miss America pageant does come with a scholarship prize, and the Miss America winner always goes on to do charity and volunteer work, etc. There is an academic component to the pageant, but honestly, have you ever seen a Miss America contestant who wasn’t drop-dead gorgeous and a size 2?
Teresa Scanlan has done work in the past to help girls with eating disorders, but by participating in a competition where beauty and perfection is the main focus, is she contradicting her work?
What do you think?

Teresa Scanlan, Miss Nebraska, was crowned the Miss America 2011 winner at last night’s Miss America Pageant. As one of the youngest Miss America contestants to ever compete in the pageant, Teresa Scanlan beat Miss Arkansas to take the crown.
Many young girls were likely watching the Miss America Pageant with their parents last night and looked on in awe at all of those beautiful ladies on stage. Now that Teresa Scanlan is Miss America 2011, she will serve as a role model to girls across this country. As the winner of a beauty pageant, is Teresa Scanlan setting a good or bad example for our youth?
The Miss America pageant does come with a scholarship prize, and the Miss America winner always goes on to do charity and volunteer work, etc. There is an academic component to the pageant, but honestly, have you ever seen a Miss America contestant who wasn’t drop-dead gorgeous and a size 2?
Teresa Scanlan has done work in the past to help girls with eating disorders, but by participating in a competition where beauty and perfection is the main focus, is she contradicting her work?
What do you think?