Winning the title of Miss Mark Twain’s Teen at the Miss Hannibal competition has opened doors for Ritenour High School senior Maggie Bannester, allowing her to advocate for important causes like water safety and heart health.
The crown also grants her a spot in the upcoming Miss Missouri Teen competition, where she will showcase her talent and dedication to community service initiatives.
“Being crowned has been an incredible experience,” Bannester said. “I’ve had the chance to present my water safety initiative in elementary classrooms and speak with lawmakers in the state capitol.”
To earn her title, Bannester competed in the Miss Hannibal local pageant, which evaluates contestants on interview skills, fitness, talent, and evening gown presentation. The Miss America program emphasizes scholarship opportunities rather than traditional beauty standards, allowing Bannester to focus on her advocacy work.
The pageant consists of five phases, with a significant emphasis on interviews and community service. Bannester is preparing for the Miss Missouri Teen competition, where she will join over 20 other contestants.
Art teacher Julie Quintero has been able to see the qualities in Bannester that have made her a natural fit for this position.
“Maggie was an exceptionally mature and talented student. Her willingness to think outside the box and push herself artistically set her apart from her peers,” Quintero said.

“I’m not surprised at all about her achievement with the title, I’m proud of her accomplishments.”
Quintero also mentioned that Bannester’s baton skills also made for an excellent skill in the talent portion of the event. Bannester has been a twirler for Ritenour since her freshman year alongside senior Gabby Sanders.
“I actually was the one who got Maggie into twirling through going to dance together,” Sanders said. “Being her teammate has honestly made our friendship difficult sometimes, but it has made us like sisters.”
Sanders believes that she has seen a new excitement in Bannester since entering and winning the Miss Mark Twain pageant. She believes that it has helped her focus more on her twirling skills, and allowed her to have a platform to get across the things she cares about.
“This is the first year Maggie has competed in pageants, I believe it has allowed Maggie to have a deeper love for baton twirling,” Sanders said. “I am beyond proud of Maggie. Watching her grow comfortable on that stage made me even more proud than watching her win Miss Hannibal.”