Meet the Miss Alabama’s Teen contestants representing Central Alabama

What is your talent and how did you choose it?
I will be performing a lyrical dance to “You Will Find Hope.” Dance is very special to me and has always been a place where I can show what I’m feeling. I chose this song because it’s the message I want to send to other young girls struggling with scoliosis. Hope is what got me through and it’s what I want to give to others.

Do you have a favorite memory of working with your Community Service Initiative?
My favorite memory from my CSI is my fundraiser that took place on February 2 here in Birmingham. While I work on my CSI year-round, I wanted to do a large-scale fundraiser to raise money for new technology in treatments. I worked so hard and I’m happy to say that I raised over $50,000 and was also named an ambassador for the National Scoliosis Foundation. I am so honored to be helping such an incredible cause.

What’s something people may not know about you?
Last April, I underwent a five hour spinal reconstruction surgery and was told I probably wouldn’t dance again for one to two years, but I was back in the studio three months later!

What is your talent and how did you choose it?
My talent is singing “Piece Of Sky” from the movie “Yentl.” I have loved to sing for as long as I can remember, whether in my grandparents’ churches or for my school’s music classes and show choir programs. One of the reasons music, and singing in particular, is so important to me is that I believe it is a universal language that connects people as a universal language of emotion. Whenever I preform, I always make sure to have an emotional connection to the piece so that I can speak that language of emotion with my audience. This song is very special to me as I first watched this movie with my mother and younger sister and I remember crying after hearing it for the first time. The message is about a young woman making her way in the world and putting herself in a very vulnerable place. The song is her communicating to those she loves who have passed on, entreating them to be proud of all that she has accomplished, just as she has made herself proud.

Do you have a favorite memory of working with your Community Service Initiative?
My favorite memory of being a part of “Make America Wild Again” happened while at Homewood’s Annual “Love Your Trees Day” this fall. While I love public speaking, it was quite daunting to be the representative for my organization and talk to people several years my senior and several degrees more educated than me on all things environment-related. In the midst of this nervousness, however, was the bright spot created by those who were genuinely thrilled to hear about our mission to save the monarch butterflies from extinction. I experienced young children who were thrilled to plant milkweed, the monarch’s main source of protection and food. Their joy doubled when we informed them that if they did plant what we took to referring to as the “butterfly donuts and ice cream,” they would likely meet some new butterfly friends. I also got to meet retirees who rarely left their houses, but were amazed at the idea that they could continue to make sure they help heal this world their grandchildren were inheriting. Through all of these encounters, my heart became full of hope that there are people who truly care and want to make a difference.

What’s something people may not know about you?
While I am a rather open book, I think it may surprise many people to know that in my free time I enjoy repairing old trucks with my dad. I am the oldest of two girls raised by the oldest of two boys, and my dad wholeheartedly believes that my sister and I should learn all of the handy skills my grandfather taught him and my uncle. He has been encouraging our curiosity for all things mechanical all of our lives. When my dad, uncle and grandfather finally decided to fix up my great-grandfather’s old red Ford pick-up truck last year, I was more than happy to provide what assistance I could. From installing new spark plugs, to rebuilding a carburetor in our garage, I was able to help bring back this tangible memory for my family and learn more about my Pawpaw Carlisle. Since then, I have also had to help my dad work on his truck from high school and learn more about his life from before he was my dad. For the rest of my life I will be thankful for the opportunities for learning and connection that fixing old trucks presented to me.

What is your talent and how did you choose it?
My talent is an interpretive dance using sign language to “Will the Lord Remember Me.” I chose this talent because I love this song and the meaning behind it. Sign language is so beautiful and I am so blessed I am able to perform it on the Miss Alabama’s Teen stage!

Do you have a favorite memory of working with your Community Service Initiative?
One of my favorite memories is reading to a group of fourth graders at my school! I was able to read a book that safely explains how it’s okay to not be okay. We even had a time for the children to ask questions about anything they wanted! I explained the points of the crown and encouraged the girls to compete in the Miss America Opportunity because of how incredible the organization is.

What’s something people may not know about you?
Something people may not know about me is although I am all about pageants and dressing up, I love the outdoors! It’s so calming for me!

What is your talent and how did you choose it?
My talent is rhythmic clogging. I have been dancing since I could walk and I immediately fell in love with clogging. It’s unique and not a dance style everyone can do.

Do you have a favorite memory of working with your Community Service Initiative?
I shared my CSI, “Dance to Heal: Healing Grief and Depression through Dance Expression,” at the GES Fall carnival. At the conclusion of my speech, we opened the stage to everyone for a big dance party and it was wonderful to see the people of all ages dancing together.

What’s something people may not know about you?
One thing people may not know about me is that I’m a visual dancer. I can usually pick up choreography quickly just by watching someone perform it.

What is your talent and how did you choose it?
My talent is an Acrobatic Dance to “Runaway Baby,” by Bruno Mars. I choose this dance to help showcase my skills I have obtained throughout my cheerleading career and also from the past where I was involved in competition gymnastics for many years. It also shows off my personality and my interest in drag racing.

Do you have a favorite memory of working with your Community Service Initiative?
One of my fondest memories of promoting my community service was when I visited and read some books regarding bullying to our elementary students. They were so inquisitive and just so cute, they all thought I was a “princess” in my crown.

What’s something people may not know about you?
One interesting thing about me people may not know is that I drag race as a hobby on the weekends. We start in March and wrap our season up late in the fall. I get to travel a lot and meet new people frequently. I enjoy it so very much!

What is your talent and how did you choose it?
My talent is a lyrical dance to a cover of Tim McGraw’s “Humble & Kind.” When I was choosing a talent song I wanted to find something that would really capture the legacy that I want to leave with the Miss America Opportunity. I can’t wait to inspire others through this piece and share my heart with Alabama this weekend.

Do you have a favorite memory of working with your Community Service Initiative?
Definitely my inaugural Sweetheart Gala that I held in February as an advocacy and fundraising event for child life programs nationally as well as the Ronald McDonald House charities. We had live music, a silent auction, an amazing speaker and ended up raising nearly $20,000 by the end of the night, which was truly the most rewarding and empowering thing that I have ever done.

What’s something people may not know about you?
I can kick a 33-yard field goal! I come from a pretty competitive family and one Christmas, I got a kicking tee in my stocking. Immediately, we went to the nearest football field to test it out, where I discovered my new hidden talent, thanks to my dad’s coaching. It was much harder than I anticipated at first, but now I have a lot of respect for our kickers and a fun way to spend quality time with my family.

What is your talent and how did you choose it?
As someone who has been dancing since I was 3 years old, I wanted to select a piece that showcased my years of training while also being entertaining. From cartwheels to tour jetés, I hope my ballet en pointe to the “Can-Can” from “Gaîté Parisienne” will have everyone clapping along!

Do you have a favorite memory of working with your Community Service Initiative?
Through working with the Birmingham-based bowling league, “A League of Their Own,” I have been able to take the relationships formed at the bowling alley into the Helena school systems. My best friend, Eric, who has an intellectual and developmental disability, told me that after meeting me at “A League of Their Own,” he went from knowing only 20 students to having friends in all grade levels across the high school. This story demonstrates the impact that this program and “Charlee’s Champions” have across Alabama.

What’s something people may not know about you?
Although I have no vocal bone in my body, I know every word to every song in the musical, “Hamilton.” Starting in fourth grade, I listened to this musical on a weekly basis and learned everything about our founding fathers as a result. I still play the soundtrack anytime I am in the car!

What is your talent and how did you choose it?
My talent is baton twirling, a passion I’ve pursued competitively since I was 8 years old. One of the highlights of my journey was representing Team USA in England, which was an incredible experience. For Miss Alabama’s Teen, I wanted to showcase a performance that not only reflects my dedication but also captivates the audience. That’s why I chose a dance twirl to a powerful compilation from “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.” It’s a dynamic routine combining my background in baton, dance, and tumbling that’s designed to keep everyone on the edge of their seats.

Do you have a favorite memory of working with your Community Service Initiative?
My service initiative, “State of Love: an outreach program for pediatric cancer patients,” holds a very special place in my heart. One of my most treasured memories working with my initiative happened earlier this month. I had the honor of being there with “Little Greer” during her last frontline chemotherapy treatment. Little Greer is just 3 years old and battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). She has been “Greering up for the Fight” with incredible strength and resilience. She is my hero. Though I may be “Big Grier with the crown,” I genuinely look up to “Little Greer.” She reminds me every day of what courage and perseverance look like. Her fight against ALL and her unwavering spirit motivate me to continue advocating for pediatric cancer research and to work even harder to make a difference through “State of Love.”

What’s something people may not know about you?
I play the French horn in the Oak Mountain High School Band. During marching season, I’m on the field twirling baton, but when concert season rolls around, you will find me on horn in the Oak Mountain Symphonic Band. Our band will be performing at the state Music Performance Assessment just a few days before I compete for Miss Alabama’s Teen!

What is your talent and how did you choose it?
My talent is baton twirling! I chose baton twirling because I love the combination of grace, athleticism and performance. I’ve been twirling for years, and it’s something that challenges me while allowing me to express myself. Plus, nothing beats the feeling of landing a toss illusion perfectly!

Do you have a favorite memory of working with your Community Service Initiative?
One of my favorite memories was donating “Saniyah’s Self Care bags” to Leeds Elementary Schools. Seeing the smiles on the students’ faces and knowing that these small acts of kindness could make a difference in their mental well-being was so rewarding. It reminded me why I started “Saniyah’s Self Care”—to spread awareness, encouragement and support to those who need it most!

What’s something people may not know about you?
Something people may not know about me is that I’m a competitive baton twirler and high school majorette with a big dream of becoming an Auburn Tiger Eye Majorette!

What is your talent and how did you choose it?
God gave me a love for music at a very young age, and I became a self-taught guitarist and vocalist. When choosing my song for this year’s Miss Alabama’s Teen competition, my love for Dolly Parton helped me to discover a hidden gem that she wrote. I identified with her clinging to memories of her southern home as she worships her savior and created my own Alabama version of her song “Smoky Mountain Memories.”

Do you have a favorite memory of working with your Community Service Initiative?
I enjoy my one-on-one interactions with veterans, allowing them to feel seen, heard and cared about by a younger generation through my Community Service Initiative, “Voices for Veterans.” My performances and connections with them are just as rewarding to me as it is for them. I believe that music is healing for all ages, but is specifically life-changing for veterans who have experienced trauma and the hardships that result from it.

What’s something people may not know about you?
I was offered a job by Dollywood to perform in a show at the theme park, and I am an avid outdoorswoman who loves to hunt and fish. I guess you could say I’m a Backwoods Dolly!

What is your talent and how did you choose it?
My talent is an acro-jazz pom routine to “You Can’t Stop the Beat.” It is inspired by the movie “Hairspray.” I chose this as my talent because I have enjoyed cheering and dancing from a young age.

Do you have a favorite memory of working with your Community Service Initiative?
My favorite memory of working with my CSI is when I created “Busy Bees”. “Busy Bees” is a Facebook group I started to show random acts of kindness in my community and surrounding areas. Each week there is a weekly challenge posted. You can post pictures or short stories of ways you shared kindness that week. If you would like to join we would love to have you!

What’s something people may not know about you?
A fun fact about me: I love being outside. I enjoy deer hunting, riding four wheelers, hiking and running.

What is your talent and how did you choose it?
My talent is a vocal performance to “Tomorrow” from the Broadway musical, “Annie.” I am so excited to sing this piece because it is a different genre of music than I usually sing, however it has given me to opportunity to expand my skills as a singer! This song is also an incredible reminder to not take any days for granted. Tomorrow will come and the sun will shine and there is always hope as long as we believe in tomorrow!

Do you have a favorite memory of working with your Community Service Initiative?
My favorite memory of working on my service initiative, ‘Twirl Away ALS,” is when my cousin Marjie got to come to one of my baton camps and see what was really going on to raise funds and awareness for patients like her. Marjie is the inspiration behind Twirl Away ALS and for me to get to introduce her to all the girls was so incredible and special.

What’s something people may not know about you?
Something a lot of people don’t know about me is that I am Jewish! This gives me the opportunity to bring in a different perspective to a lot of things in my life.

What is your talent and how did you choose it?
My talent actually chose me…. Before I could speak, I was singing. It has stuck with me my entire life and is what gets me through difficult days. For the competition this year, I am singing the wildly popular song “Defying Gravity” from the musical and movie, “Wicked.” While this movie is a global phenomenon at the moment, it’s actually been apart of my life since I was very young. I’m so happy people are seeing and loving what I’ve known all along. Elphaba is my dream role, and I can’t wait for everyone to see how I portray her.

Do you have a favorite memory of working with your Community Service Initiative?
My CSI is “Following Faith: Leaving a Legacy of Hope for those with Spina Bifida.” Many people don’t know Alabama has one of the largest spina bifida populations. We are also leading the nation in top-notch healthcare for these individuals. So much so, UAB and Children’s are hosting a national conference this summer to show the advancement in care we give here in Alabama and how other states can follow along. My favorite memory this year is when I created and hosted my very own roll-a-thon. It was called “Crowns for a Cause- A Roll-a-Thon for Spina Bifida.” It was held in Pelham and over 150 people attended. I successfully raised over $5,000 to send patients to Camp Sunshine this coming summer. It was a heartfelt and moving day to see so many come out to support my cause and to meet several spina bifida families.

What’s something people may not know about you?
Everyone knows I sing and dance, but what they may not know is that I also play the piano. While I haven’t taken lessons in several years, I can still sit down at the piano after hearing a song, pick out the notes, and play it from ear. My favorite piece to play is moonlight sonata or anything from the “Lost” series.

What is your talent and how did you choose it?
My talent is musical theatre en pointe. My dance is entitled “Are You Having Any Fun?” For me it was an easy choice. I have been dancing since the age of two and instantly fell in love with ballet, so I knew I wanted to share my passion and express myself through dance with all of Alabama.

Do you have a favorite memory of working with your Community Service Initiative?
My service initiative “Life Without Limits: Advocating for Children and Adults with Cerebral Palsy” has been an incredible experience. My favorite memory was spending months creating and designing cerebral palsy T-shirts with my older sister Abigail who has cerebral palsy. She created an absolute masterpiece on the T-shirts and it was so fun handing them out for others to enjoy as well.

What’s something people may not know about you?
An interesting fact about me that not many people know is I have five siblings. I love living in a large family constantly surrounded by those who love me.

What is your talent and how did you choose it?
My talent is a jazz dance to “Sax” by Fluer East. I am a competitive dancer and I chose this specific piece because it allows me to have fun on stage by showcasing my inner diva!

Do you have a favorite memory of working with your Community Service Initiative?
“Bella’s Bins” allows for me to engage with two of my favorite things, sports and the IDD community, so every appearance I make is my favorite! However, if I had to choose only one memory, it would be visiting the Miracle League Field construction site in Trussville that will be having its grand opening very soon. By partnering with them I see the vision of expanding our sports community and creating opportunities of a lifetime for those with intellectual disabilities.

What’s something people may not know about you?
An interesting fact that most people don’t know is my birthday is on Christmas Day, so I get to share a birthday with Jesus!

What is your talent and how did you choose it?
I will dance en pointe to “The Waltz” from the beloved Broadway musical, “The Sound of Music.” I have been dancing since I was three years old, and four years ago, I found my love for dancing en pointe. I chose this selection as it brings back such sweet memories of the simple joys of childhood.

Do you have a favorite memory of working with your Community Service Initiative?
Through my Community Service Initiative, “Keeping Kindness,” a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to mental health awareness and suicide prevention, I’ve had the privilege of being part of some truly meaningful projects. One of the most impactful moments for me was providing over $600 worth of Thanksgiving meals this year to first-responder families who have recently lost loved ones to suicide. It was an emotional experience, knowing that even a small gesture could comfort those grieving during such a difficult time.

What’s something people may not know about you?
I’m a 16-year-old junior at Homewood High School who loves traveling with my family and creating meaningful memories. I also founded “The Kindness Club,” which has been a rewarding way of spreading positivity in our community and state. After I graduate, I plan to earn both a B.A. and Ph.D. in criminal justice and psychology to become a criminal profiler for the FBI. I’m excited to combine my passion for understanding people with my desire to make a difference.