By Marilyn Miller
There’s a video floating around the internet. It’s gotten, oh, like 400,000 hits. It’s of a young woman hiking up her pageant gown and running, yes, running across stage to congratulate the winner of the Miss Teen Volunteer America Pageant 2024, Anna Grace of Maryland.
That moment reveals a whole lot about the character of 16-year-old Ava Martin of Minden, who placed in the Top Ten, vying against 50 other teens in talent, evening gown, interview and fitness competition March 6-9 at the Carl Perkins Civic Center in Jackson, Tennessee.
Competing as Miss Louisiana Teen Volunteer, Ava concluded that the national pageant was everything she thought it would be, and more! Comparing the staging of the pageant to Miss America, she chose to describe the four-day event as a “well-oiled machine” rather than “organized chaos.” There are volunteers everywhere, from backstage to on-stage, “keeping 51 girls organized.”
From her experiences, does she plan to compete in other pageants? “Oh, for sure. The networking…meeting people…making a lot of friends,” she said, describing backstage (where no parents are allowed) as “51 girls forming relationships and helping each other.”
“If you are only in this (or any pageant) to win it, and you don’t, you are only going to be disappointed and you’re going to leave without anything else,” Ava pointed out.
Was there ever a time during competition that Ava was apprehensive or scared? “I don’t think so,” she responded, pondering the question. “I just honed-in on, if it’s God’s will, it’ll happen. I had a lot of people (parents, aunts, friends, other relatives) to lean on, so it was pretty peaceful. There was too much happiness going on around me to be scared.”
In fact, the Top Ten finisher has a tip for other girls that should reduce their apprehension when on-stage. “Compartmentalize every phase of the competition,” Ava advised. “If you are in the Interview phase, focus ONLY on the interview, don’t let your mind wander. This helps you stay in the moment.”
Also, “It’s all mental. You have to show up as the titleholder. You are ready and you ARE Miss Teen Volunteer America! And I put in the work, too. But you never know (if you can do something) until you try something – and that goes for everything. To look back and see all I have gained that I would not have if I had not tried. If you’re scared to take a chance – just do it!!”
Ava’s mom, Jodi Martin, thought that the whole experience was amazing. “I am so proud of her,” she said, trying to hold back tears. Speaking for all pageant hopefuls like her daughter, “You’ve got to embrace it every time you go out there…do your best…that’s all you can do.”
She does have some advice for pageant mothers. “Moms need to understand…there are 51 thoroughbreds here,” Jodi said. “The odds are not in your favor, they are like, two percent.” Other advice for the pageant mom? “Relax and be prepared to do a lot of errands. But know that it is good bonding time for you and your daughter.”
“And watch your Social Media,” she warned. “They (pageant organizers) vet you on Social Media.” In the Miss Louisiana Teen Volunteer Pageant, Ava won the Social Media Award in both Teen and Miss classifications.
Of course, Ava’s favorite part of the four-day, jammed-pack week was the After Party, when the girls could “let loose.” They got to meet people they had not met before. “And then I got a fried chicken sandwich,” Ava grinned.
Ava’s father, Devin Martin, didn’t get to do any sightseeing, as he expected. “We stayed busy,” Jodi said. “You hand over your child to them, and then you keep busy. And I meal-prepped everything for Ava.”
Pageants can be expensive, especially with a couture wardrobe (designed). But the cost can be mitigated, thanks to sponsors. For instance, Faulkenberry’s of Meridian, Mississippi sponsored the cost of Ava’s evening gowns for Evening Gown and Interview. Talent night for Ava featured a gown from Sloan’s, who also sponsored her opening number cocktail dress. Her spray tan was compliments of Gleaux by Kelsea in Minden, and a set of earrings for her opening number was gifted by Bijoux by Gary Tom. Because she made the Top Ten, she had to perform a second talent number, which required the additional gown from Sloan’s.
Since the Miss Volunteer America Pageant is a nationwide, service-oriented scholarship program that seeks to empower young women across the country through educational scholarships and other opportunities, Ava created a community service initiative entitled “Revive. Healing. Motion.” It is dance movement therapy for children. “She helps children express deep emotions through dance,” Jodi explained. Also coming up are a new podcast and a children’s coloring book. In the meantime, Ava will be volunteering with Teen Challenge and Seeds.
Ava is a sophomore at Minden High School, where she performs with the Louisi-Annes, plays on the tennis team, and is a member of the Student Council. She is a student leader in 1st Priority (Bible study). She attends Cydni’s School of Dance, where she is on the competition team and is a student teacher.
Back to that race across the stage. “When they crowned Anna Grace, I just ran to her. I was the first one to hug her because we had really gotten close. And she deserved it!”
“I walked away with a great week, and a lot of new friends,” Ava said. Count among those friends, Jules, Carlos, Steph and Brock, from PR Pageant Coaches, who hold a special place in her heart.
Stay in touch with Ava at the following Instagram accounts: missavamartin, misslateenvol, and revive_healing_in_motion.