Courtesy photo
Paige Bauer, the 2023 National American Miss Colorado Teen Queen, presenting her crown and sash in her formal gown.

By Adelaide Kuehn
The Surveyor

When Berthoud teen Paige Bauer was crowned National American Miss Colorado Teen Queen at the 2023 state pageant, she won a multitude of prizes: refunded entry fees, a photo shoot, money to go towards the national pageant and the ability to travel the country and help with other states’ pageants. But ever since she started competing in pageants in third grade, she’s had her eyes on a different prize.

“Her big thing, since she was little, was she wanted the crown, of course,” Leann Bauer, Paige’s mom, said.

And on July 24 at the DoubleTree Resort in Phoenix, Ariz., Bauer earned just that. Adorned with her tiara and sash, she will compete in the national pageant during Thanksgiving week in Orlando, Fla., for a chance to win the title of National American Miss Teen Queen and a $5,000 scholarship.

To earn the crown, Bauer competed in three sections: formal wear, personal introduction and interview. Over three days she was judged on her gown modeling, public introduction and answers to questions during an interview with a judge.

The personal introduction section is one of her favorites and one of the most challenging. To be judged, contestants must say their name, where they’re from and a few things about themselves in exactly 30 seconds. The timing of that is “a big deal,” Bauer said because it’s difficult to remember everything.

But the section remains well-liked by Bauer because of the skills it’s given her. “It’s really nice to have to be able to talk in front of people,” she said.

A focus on skills is a common theme for National American Miss pageants, Bauer said. According to her, pageants are more about preparation than outer presentation. Through competing, Bauer said she’s gained interview and public speaking skills, as well as an increase in confidence.
“Just knowing that I have these skills makes me feel prepared for the future,” she said.

But focusing on skills doesn’t mean missing out on the fashion of a pageant. In fact, dressing up for competitions is something she loves – so much so that she competed and placed first in the extra casual wear and modeling competitions at the July pageant. She also placed first in the letter writing, recommendations and heart of service competitions.

Doing modeling and fashion competitions gives her more confidence in herself, Bauer said, even though when she started, she sometimes obsessed over finding the “perfect outfit.”

“Now I’m just kind of like you know what? I like this outfit. I feel good in it. I’m just gonna wear it and it doesn’t really matter what anybody else really says … I feel proud of what I choose to wear,” she said.

In three months, Paige will compete in the national pageant. And she said that, to her, it doesn’t matter how she does in the competition.

“Whether I don’t win, or I do win, I’ll still have these very good life skills,” Bauer said. Also – she’ll always have the Miss Colorado Teen Queen crown.