Miss Teen Volunteer America 2024 was crowned this past weekend at the Carl Perkins Civic Center. Miss
Teen Volunteer America is the teen program in conjunction with the Miss Volunteer America Program
founded by Allison Alderson Demarcus. Miss Volunteer America is a nationwide, service-oriented
scholarship program based in Tennessee that seeks to empower young women across the country through
educational scholarships and extraordinary opportunities.

Forty of the most talented teen contestants between the ages of 13 and 18 from all over the United States
traveled to Jackson, TN to compete for the prestigious national title, scholarship money and endless
opportunities. Many traveled in several days before check-in and registration on Wednesday to get
acclimated to the city of Jackson. Each contestant competes in a private interview with the judges, fitness &
wellness, talent, and evening gown. Thursday night was the first night of preliminary competition. Miss
Iowa Teen Volunteer, Grace Smithey, was awarded the Fitness & Wellness preliminary award and Miss
North Carolina Teen Volunteer, Andi Creech, was awarded the talent preliminary award. Friday night, the
Fitness & Wellness preliminary award was a tie between Miss New Hampshire Teen Volunteer, Eliza Fisher,
and Miss Georgia Teen Volunteer, Kaitlyn Tanner, and the talent preliminary award went home with Miss
California Teen Volunteer, Natalie Miragliotta.

Saturday night, Miss Utah Teen Volunteer, Ayzjiahana Wood, was crowned as the new Miss Teen Volunteer
America. Wood is the owner of BODEM, a company that teaches “Body Embrace” through her clothing line
and specialized hair products. A proud Filipina and African American young woman, Ayzjiahna is a junior at
Clearfield High School who takes advanced classes in the medical field from Weber State University.
Ayzjiahana Wood plans to be certified as a nursing assistant by next year where she will then intern in a
dermatology clinic. When she isn’t running her business or working on her education, you can find her
cheering alongside her varsity cheer squad, snowboarding, playing the ukulele, singing her favorite music,
or visiting her extended family in the Philippines. She was the youngest Delegate at Miss Teen USA Class of
2021. "We are thrilled to have Ayzjiahna Wood as our new Miss Teen Volunteer America," said Allison
DeMarcus, founder and CEO of the Miss Volunteer America pageant system. "Her unwavering dedication to
service and exceptional leadership skills make her an ideal role model for young women everywhere."

In addition to the teen pageant being held, several of the 51 Miss contestants who will be vying for the title
of Miss Volunteer America were in attendance to watch their teens compete and prepare for their
upcoming national pageant in June. The Miss contestants attended a workshop where they learned more
about pageant week, the Volunteer America system and had the opportunity to get to know each other.
For more information on Miss Teen Volunteer America and Miss Volunteer America, visit their website:
missvolunteeramerica.net. To learn more about Jackson and west Tennessee connect with us at Visit Jackson, TN
and download the APP on Itunes or Google Play.