Nevada High School senior secures first runner-up at Missouri Teen Pageant

Saturday, October 1, 2016
Chloe Bartlett, 17, of Liberal, was first-runner up at the recent Miss Missouri Teen USA pageant competition held in St. Louis, Mo. Bartlett is a senior at Nevada High School. Submitted photo

Nevada Daily Mail

Chloe Bartlett's whirlwind weekend at the Miss Missouri Teen USA 2017 pageant at Lindenwood University near St. Louis culminated with a first runner-up finish. Bartlett, 17, of Liberal, said that while her ultimate goal was to win, she is ecstatic that she was the first runner-up after vying for the top prize with 63 girls from across the state of Missouri.

"I was most proud of winning best interview," Bartlett said, "because that was the hardest part of the competition. That was probably the most rewarding part of the experience for me."

Bartlett added that the main focus for her leading up to the pageant was staying up-to-date on global events. She worked on this with an interview coach, as well as her mother, Lori, who was crowned Miss Missouri USA 1990.

"Being young, 17-years old, I had to truly figure out who I was as a person," Bartlett said. "And I think that's why I was so successful, because I had to believe in myself and find out who I was."

Bartlett confirmed to the Daily Mail that she will return to the pageant next year, as she looks to complete her quest for the Miss Missouri Teen USA crown.

"Yes, I will be back," Bartlett said, adding that she will take a year-long break from pageant competition while focusing on her budding modeling career. Bartlett is currently signed by Kansas City-based "Voices &" Model and Talent Agency.

"Right now I'm really focused on modeling," Bartlett said, "trying to see how far that will take me. I'll continue to model up until the (Miss Missouri Teen USA 2018) pageant. I'll start training again six months before the pageant."

Bartlett continued, "You'll get out of modeling as much as you put into it."

As for the pageant, Bartlett said she wasn't feeling any pressure and that her mind was at ease.

"I've always been nervous when I'm competing in pageants," she said. "But at this pageant, the entire time I don't remember being nervous. I felt so much peace, and was calm and collected. It came from God, there was no other way."

Bartlett noted, "I was just really excited about the pageant and never down on myself that I didn't win. Because I know that God has a plan for me, and if it's my year then I will win, and if it wasn't, God has something else in store for me. And having that attitude really just let me enjoy the pageant."

Bartlett said it was all about soaking up the experience.

"It wasn't about going out and winning the crown, it was just about having fun and getting that experience and opportunity," she said. "And I made a ton of new friends."

Bartlett said she had a support group comprised of family and close friends attending the event, including her parents Brent and Lori, older sister Mikayla, best friend Riley Gordon, and Gordon's mom Staci Anderson.

"It was really encouraging they attended," Bartlett said.

According to Bartlett, one of her favorite moments on-stage, was when she was asked who the most influential person in her life was.

"I answered my sister Mikayla," Bartlett said. "It had Mikayla in tears and made my whole family tear up. So that was really fun getting to talk about Mikayla and all that she has done in my life to impact it."

The winner of the pageant was Sophia Dominguez-Heithoff of Kansas City.

"I'm very excited for Sophia," Bartlett said. "I know she'll do a great job of representing the state of Missouri as Miss (Missouri) Teen USA. She's a really sweet girl and she's going to do well."

Bartlett said that by achieving first runner-up she was awarded a $36,000 scholarship to Lindenwood University. Bartlett, however, said that at this time she is unsure of where she will attend college. In addition, Bartlett said she has potential modeling opportunities on the horizon.

"Kansas City is the main one I will be modeling out of," she said. "I'm also looking at other agencies in other states. So I'm checking into that now as well."

Bartlett is a senior at Nevada High School, and a member of the school's Crimson and Gray dance team.

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