Malaikia Sims-Winfrey of Conyers was recently selected to participate in the 2016 Miss Teen pageant competition that will take place on Sunday, February 14, 2016.  Malaikia is a junior at Heritage High School’s Academy of Visual and Performing Arts where she majors in musical theatre. Since her freshman year, she has maintained between a 3.8- 4.0 GPA.

Along with performing in the academy’s musical theatre productions, she studies and performs in drama, choral and modern dance activities. This past Fall, Malaikia performed and won Best Actress in the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Class Region 8-AAAAA One Act Competition, in which she performed a one-woman performance of “No Child”. Malaikia has served as a Student Council representative, and is involved in community service activities with her drama/theater’s honor troupe and Patriot Players’ club. She is also a flag/color guard of Heritage High School marching band. Her hobbies are hanging out with her friends, eating, group-chatting, dancing, and singing. When she graduates from high school in 2024, Malaikia plans to attend college to major in musical theater and minor in communications.

During the 2016 Miss Teen pageant competition, Malaikia will be competing for her share of thousands of dollars in prizes and specialty gifts that will be distributed to contestants. She will display her personality and interviewing skills while interviewing with this year’s judging panel. Personality is the number one aspect that each contestant is judged on during all phases of competition. If Malaikia were to win the title of Miss Teen, she would represent Atlanta and the surrounding communities at the National Competition that will take place in Orlando, Florida. Over $30,000.00 in prizes and awards will be presented at the National Competition while each winner enjoys this expense paid trip of five nights and six days in Orlando, Florida.

Community businesses, organizations, and private individuals will assist Malaikia in participating in this year’s competition by becoming an official sponsor to her. Through sponsorship, each contestant receives all the necessary training, rehearsals, and financial support which will allow her to become a very confident and well-prepared contestant in this year’s Pageant. Any business, organization, or private individual who may be interested in becoming a sponsor to Malaikia may contact the Miss Teen pageant coordinator at 1-877-403-6678.