Upper St. Clair Senior Competing In Miss Teen America Pageant

UPPER ST. CLAIR, PA - Upper St. Clair High School senior Krisha Monpara won’t lack for things to do between graduation and enrolling at the University of Michigan in the fall. Monpara, the reigning Miss Pennsylvania Teen America, will compete in the 2018 Miss Teen America Pageant.

The event will be held in San Antonio July 17-21 and has four components: an interview, fashion modeling, physical fitness and eventing gown.

Monpara’s mother, Rekha Monpara, said she decided to enter the Miss Pennsylvania pageant to help overcome feelings of inadequacy and moments when she felt she would never fit the old of what it means to be an American.

Throughout her life she heard comments like, ‘Oh wow you’re really pretty for an Indian,’ or ‘For an Indian your house doesn’t smell at all,’” Rekha Monpara said in a district release. “While she used to let those moments define her as an outsider, she learned that the color of one’s skin only holds whatever power we, as a society, give to it. This mindset should apply to any minority that exists — to any group that feels isolated because of their differences. With this mindset, she hopes to serve as a model for others, not only as Miss Pennsylvania Teen America, but also as Miss Teen America.”

Monpara is captain of the Upper St. Clair girls’ tennis team and Speech and Debate Team. She is also the treasurer of the school’s Future Business Leaders of America and the National Honors Society.

Manpara also serves on the board of student council, as a leader of Kids Helping Kids, and as a chairperson for the school’s 2018 MiniTHON, which recently raised more than $40,000 to battle childhood cancer.

At Michigan, she plans to pursue an economics degree on a pre-med track.

Photo via Upper St. Clair School District.

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