Clearwater resident Maddie (Madeline) Helget was crowned National American Miss Teen Nov. 27 in Anaheim, CA at the culmination of the National American Miss (NAM) pageant. 

 

Helget’s journey began when she was named Miss Minnesota Teen in June. Unlike traditional “beauty” pageants, NAM pageants encourage good communication and presentation skills in order to help young women gain poise, self-confidence and a competitive edge for successful futures.

 

The national competition is judged in four categories, formal wear, personal introduction, interview, and community involvement.

 

“At nationals there are eight judges in the interview category,” Helget explained. “Each of them asks you a question and you only have one minute to answer. You have to make sure you know exactly what you want to get across.”

 

In the community involvement portion of the competition Helget spoke about her school’s Cardinal Buddies program, which is similar to Big Brother/Big Sisters.

 

“I love mentoring kids at school and at church,” she said.

 

She always brings Oreos when she’s mentoring young people, because, she says, “People are like Oreos, the good stuff is on the inside.”

 

“They literally eat up that part of my presentation,” she laughed.

 

Helget’s platform for the competition was her “Love Your Selfie” campaign, which was inspired by the death of her 12 year-old cousin from terminal cancer when she was 14. 

 

“He was always super confident and loved himself throughout everything,” she said. “I promote what Shawn stood for. He was very motivational and inspirational, and was like a brother to me.”

 

Along with her national title, Helget also came home with three additional titles she received from the optional categories she participated in, casual wear modeling, runway and fashion model.

 

“I deliberately picked an ugly Christmas sweater for the casual wear modeling category,” she said. “It was a ridiculous outfit but it worked.”

 

Her theme for the event was ‘Rockin’ Round the Christmas Tree in My Ugly Sweater.’

 

“I went to Nationals literally to win this category to prove to girls you don’t have to wear a $300 cocktail dress,” Helget said. “I like being different.”

 

The weeklong event culminated with the crowning of the next National American Miss Teen.

 

“When I got in the top 10 I was really excited,” said Helget. “Then I made it in the top five, which was amazing but meant I had to do my personal introduction again.

I had to go last, and I was freaking out and frantically trying to remember it. I got up and I actually said it the best I ever have.”

 

“When I was crowned I screamed because it was so hectic. The noise and confetti startled me.”

 

Being named National American Miss Teen hasn’t really sunk it yet, however Helget will have the next year to get used to it. As national titleholder she has a number of responsibilities, including traveling to other states to attend their state pageants. 

 

She’ll also be promoting her “Love Your Selfie” campaign at schools, and performing her duties as Miss Minnesota Teen. Her first official appearance is for a fundraiser at Gillette Children’s Hospital.

 

Helget thanked her sponsors, Clearwater Travel Plaza, Clearwater Parts City, Clearwater Legion, Moon Motors, Empire’s, Lori’s Hair Care and her family and friends. 

“I wouldn’t have gotten here without them.”

 

Helget is a senior at Annandale High School, and is involved in tennis, choir, Key Club, National Honor Society and Cardinal Buddies. She’s also in the top 10 of her class, and works as a dietary aid at the Annandale Care Center.

 

She plans on taking a year off for her NAM responsibilities before attending college, where she plans on becoming a pediatric oncologist so she can work with kids who have cancer. 

 

With everything that’s happened, the little things are still what are most important to Helget. 

 

“My favorite part of the entire event was meeting a little girl named Abigail in the elevator after the formal wear event,” she said. “She told me she loved my dress, grabbed my hands and wished me good luck. Then she turned to her mom and told her she’d just given me half of her Irish luck. It made my day.”

 

Helget lives in Clearwater with her parents, Joe and Cori, older brother Jack, and younger brother Ben.