Jahnavi Muppaneni is not your traditional pageant girl. A year before she won the title of Miss Teen Texas International 2014, she had never even considered competing for a crown.
She learned of the International Pageant Program during her junior year at The Woodlands College Park High School from a classmate who was competing. When Muppaneni heard that creating a strong platform was a vital component of the competition, she recognized an opportunity to draw attention to a cause dear to her: veterans.
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Twelve-year-old Roman Rueda recently was named Youth Honoree of the 2014 Woodland Jingle Bell Walk/Run by The Arthritis Foundation. The Spring resident was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in May of last year but is currently in remission. He's passionate about finding a cure so that other kids won't have to suffer.
"I've been a Junior Volunteer for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs since I was a freshman in high school, and that's where my work with the community began," says the 18-year-old. "My platform, Salute to Veterans, is all about helping veterans overcome a wide array of challenges such as unemployment, homelessness and mental well-being."
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Six-hundred World War II veterans and 300 Vietnam War veterans die every day, Muppaneni says, and she feels that it's the responsibility of today's youth to collect and share those vets' stories with future generations.
In preparation for her pageant debut, Muppaneni stocked an arsenal of statistics for the interview, worth 40 percent of her overall score. The fitness, fun-fashion and evening-wear categories accounted for 20 percent each.
She was crowned Miss Teen Texas International at the Granville Arts Center in Dallas in March. Muppaneni credits her platform and preparation, but she also snagged awards for best evening gown and best fun fashion.
"The pageant was on my birthday weekend, and after I won, I remember thinking to myself, 'This has been the best birthday present ever!' I didn't grow up doing pageants, so out of all the emotions I felt I think shock hit me first."
With the Miss Teen International competition coming up in July, there was little time to waste. An entourage of professionals - including pageant coach Valerie Hayes, wardrobe stylist Laine Berry and walking expert Michelle Jones - helped her train for the national event in Florida. Muppaneni didn't place, but she says she is thankful for the experience. The highlight of the trip? Making blankets for cancer patients with the other pageant girls.
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"It bothers me that people still call pageants 'beauty pageants,' " Muppaneni says. "Women don't simply compete against each other; they empower themselves and the people around them. We don't just wear a crown and sash for pictures, we wear them to raise awareness for the causes that we're passionate about."
Halfway through her reign, Muppaneni has checked several things off her bucket list. She met Congressman Kevin Brady and talked with him about bills affecting veterans, she delivered a speech at Honor Flight Houston's welcome-home ceremony for World War II veterans.
As a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin, Muppaneni is studying corporate communications and broadcast journalism. She's not sure whether more pageants are in her future. She's diving into college life and is active with campus organizations that support veterans, as well as the American Heart Association.
"Everyone I've met so far in my journey made a lasting impression on me, and I hope that I did the same," Muppaneni says. "I believe that we have two hands for a reason - one to help ourselves, and one to help others."
