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PHOTO: Miranda Torrey. (Tess J Photography photo)
PORTLAND — A Lisbon student was named Miss Maine Elementary Young American Woman of Service 2021 – Portland at the 12th annual Maine Academic Scholarship Pageant Sept. 23.
Miranda Torrey, a seventh-grade student at Philip W Sugg Middle School, Lisbon, will represent Maine as Miss Maine Elementary throughout the year.
Miranda was one of 107 young women who vied for the USA National Miss Maine and Young American Women of Service titles. Combined, they contributed 19,000 hours in community service. They were competing for the opportunity to compete nationally for more than $300,000 in prizes and scholarships and to represent the Unite Against Bullying ME, Crown CARES project in Maine Schools and communities. This year’s fundraiser took on a different look with virtual competitions and entertainment, mask and a strict safety policy.
Miranda is the daughter of Donald and Rachel Torrey of Lisbon. She is also the recipient of her 5th Gold Presidential Voluntarism Award for community service, won her fourth USA National Miss Maine Junior Spokesmodel Title and has earned a variety of local, state and national pageant titles since 2017.
In addition to her pageant schedule, Miranda at a recent pageant shared her experiences of being bullied and has created a personal platform, “Kid’s Speak,” which is a place where kids can go to talk about anything that affects them, where she wants all kids to know they are not alone, that their size does not matter, that they can do and be anything they want and that their past does not define who they can be. Her speech is available on Facebook at kidszspeak.
As Miss Maine Elementary 2021, Miranda will have the opportunity to represent the Unite Against Bullying ME Crown CARES project in Maine Schools and communities. A professional model, she also has been cast as the lead in the movie “Ember – an Origin Story,” due out next year, and written and directed by Michael Castiel. The project focuses on human trafficking and modern slavery. Miranda is also looking forward to her first year on the school track team, dance classes at her new studio and her second season cheerleading.
YAWOS was founded to empower all women across the country to become the best version of themselves possible through service. The mission is to encourage youth to serve in their communities and to create a positive, encouraging, and empowering sisterhood of youth and teens who are interested in motivating others through community and civic involvement, as positive role models through service. The service platform is to promote and educate the community of bullying prevention and positive social behaviors at any ages and in all areas of life.
