Pageant News Bureau - America's Perfect Teen 2001

The 2001 Perfect Teen winner's circle. Seated, from left, first runner-up Jessica Young, winner Kristin Muri, second runner-up Elviha Akberov. Back row, from left, fourth runner-up Meghan Brazzele and third runner-up Lauren Campagne.
Photo courtesy of Carvern Productions

A very happy coincidence

Early in 2001, PNB decided to profile two contestants in the upcoming America's Perfect Teen Pageant (see below). We chose two girls whose states were near each other, and who had met before. (That's what we call adding a bit of drama.) We dubbed the girls the "happy warriors."

Well, now they're even happier. On the third weekend of July, Kristin Muri of Pennsylvania won the crown, and fellow warrior Jessica Young of New Jersey finished as first runner-up.

It was no easy contest. A look at the next three runners-up, Elviha Akberov, Lauren Campagne and Meghan Brazzele, shows that this was a dazzling field. And when we ran our original story, we were not making any predictions. Somehow, though, we put our finger on the course of fate.

Maybe we were lucky. Maybe we were psychic. But one thing is as clear today as it was six months ago. These teens are delightful.

Sarah MacInnis, Kristin Muri and Jessica Young

America's Perfect Teen, Sarah MacInnis, with Kristin Muri of Pennsylvania and Jessica Young of New Jersey, two young women who have a chance to be her successor.

Two to get ready

As the rough winter of 2001 wound down in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, most people were set to welcome spring.
But at least two teenage girls were already looking ahead to the middle of summer. They were ready for the heat of battle.

While the winter winds were still blowing in the Northeast, Kristin Muri had been crowned Pennsylvania's Perfect Teen. Jessica Young had been crowned New Jersey's Perfect Teen. That meant that in July, both would be competing in Orlando, Fla., to become America's Perfect Teen.

They met as newly crowned rivals, sharing a stage with Sarah MacInnis, the reigning America's Perfect Teen. Ms. Muri and Ms. Young were already planning their strategies for the coming showdown in Florida. Each was aiming to defeat the other, and dozens of other girls, to be Ms. MacInnis' successor.

But it was a peaceful scene when Ms. Muri and Ms. Young were introduced to each other. The smiles were sincere, the words were friendly. In the Perfect Teen system, with its emphasis on values, there are many competitors, but no enemies.

Kristin Muri, Pennsylvania's Perfect Teen, is crowned by predecessor Jessica Ruhl.

Jessica Young is crowned New Jersey's Perfect Teen by predecessor Janise Haberstroh.

So these two beauties will do battle as friends. But they will do battle. When the curtain goes up in Orlando, it will be every girl for herself. That's what pageants are all about.

Photos courtesy of Carvern Productions