MISS MARYLAND'S OUTSTANDING TEEN, MISS OKLAHOMA'S OUTSTANDING TEEN AND MISS TEXAS' OUTSTANDING TEEN WIN PRELIMINARY AWARDS

PHOTOS AVAILABLE ONLINE

Miss Oklahoma's Outstanding Teen Alicia Clifton was named Tuesday night's preliminary talent winner at the Linda Chapin Theater in the Orange County Convention Center during the first night of competition. Also in the spotlight were Miss Texas' Outstanding Teen Sydney Capello and Miss Maryland's Outstanding Teen Joanna Guy, who won the preliminary awards for Evening Wear and Sportswear, respectively.

(Pictured from left to right: Miss Oklahoma's Outstanding Teen, Miss Maryland's Outstanding Teen and Miss Texas Outstanding Teen)

Follow the competition online by viewing photos on the Miss America's Outstanding Teen website, www.MAOTEEN.org. 

About Miss America's Outstanding Teen
A sister company to the Miss America Organization, Miss America's Outstanding Teen promotes scholastic achievement, creative accomplishment, healthy living and community involvement for America's teens. For further information about MAOT or to obtain press credentials or tickets to the week long event, log onto www.maoteen.org or contact Allison Kreiger at 321-231-0791. MAOTeen and Miss America's Outstanding Teen and all related titles, characters, and logos are trademarks of Miss America's Outstanding Teen Organization, Inc. a 501 c 3, Not for Profit Corporation.

About the Linda W. Chapin Theater
Offering aesthetic and technical perfection, the Orange County Convention Center's 2,643-seat Linda W. Chapin Theater is an ideal venue for all types of theatrical and musical performances, award presentations and corporate events. The Chapin Theater is located in the West Concourse of the Orange County Convention Center, the second-largest convention center in the country. For more information about the Chapin Theater and Convention Center visit www.occc.net.   
 

Non-Profit Organization focused on donating dresses to girls in need share its message with MAOT

Orlando, FL – Miss America's Outstanding Teen (MAOT) organization announced today that Caitlin's Closet, a non-profit organization which collects gently worn prom gowns and distributes them to girls who would otherwise not be able to afford to attend their proms, is the Evening Gown Competition Sponsor. Caitlin's Closet was founded by Caitlin Brunell, Miss America's Outstanding Teen.

MAOT, the "little sister" to Miss America, will host its national competition in Orlando during the week of August 12-16, 2008 with 52 state representatives competing in various competitions for a chance to win over $30,000 in college scholarships and the title of Miss America's Outstanding Teen. The competition will be held in the Linda Chapin Theatre at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

"I wanted to do something to help other teens," Caitlin said. "I realized that every girl should be able to attend school events and feel good about herself, and I thought I might be able to help make that happen."

Caitlin has sponsored events in 10 states this year and has collected nearly 6000 gowns. Dress Drives are taking place at several locations in Orlando during the week of competition. Bloomingdales at Millennia Mall, Sol River Coffee House at Veranda Park in Metro West, and The Vineyard Restaurant and Wine Shop at the Cascades of Isleworth shopping plaza, have joined forces to be official "drop-off" locations for slightly used formal wear that will be distributed to teen girls throughout Central Florida in the weeks leading up to homecoming.

During the weeks of August 7th thru the 21st stop by either Bloomingdales, The VINEYARD or SOL RIVER COFFEE HOUSE in S.W. Orlando and donate your dress—you will receive discounts on in-store items and other great incentives too from these generous businesses while enjoying great food, coffee, wine and shopping.

To find out more about Caitlin's Closet, visit www.CaitlinsCloset.org. To learn more about Caitlin and the MAOT organization, go to www.MAOTeen.org.
 

Orlando, FL - Caitlin Brunell can now add cover model to her list of amazing accomplishments as Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2008. Brunell is featured in the 3rd issue of Savvy Magazine on sale at Barnes and Noble stores nationwide.

An autograph signing event with Miss America's Outstanding Teen, Caitlin Brunell, is scheduled at the Linda Chapin Theatre (OCCC) on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 6:30pm-7:00pm.  The final night of preliminary competition will follow at 7:00pm.  The first 250 people attending the event will receive an autographed copy of the magazine. 

Savvy Magazine's co-publisher, Stacey Kole, said they were thrilled to be able to spotlight the outgoing titleholder because not only is she beautiful and exudes life and energy, but she is such an accomplished young woman.

Brunell started Caitlin's Closet, a nonprofit organization, in 2006 so that young women could have the opportunity to outfit themselves in donated formal wear for their prom, homecoming dance, academic awards or sports banquet.

"We believe Caitlin's Closet is a fabulous resource to young women all over the country," said Kole. "We're so impressed that someone as young as Caitlin had the idea and motivation to accomplish something as wide-reaching and important as Caitlin's Closet."

They also said they were extremely pleased with the outcome of the photo shoot that was shot by Zac Grimaldo, the official photographer of MAOT.

"We absolutely love Zac's photography and feel the cover and fashion spread are extremely strong. We've been hearing only positive things from people around the country," Kole said.

In addition to fashion, beauty and pageant events, Savvy Magazine features up and coming pageant contestants that are intelligent motivated and community minded. Kole added that they love to reward contestants that are dedicated to their academics and their service projects by showcasing them in the magazine.

For more information about Miss America's Outstanding Teen, please visit www.maoteen.org.

Additional information about Savvy Magazine is available at http://www.savvymag.net.