Leominster senior named Miss Massachusetts' Teen – Sentinel and Enterprise

From left to right: Faith O'Hanlon (3rd runner-up); Laila Hosnander (1st runner-up); Maggie Leighton, teenager and winner from Leominster, Marianna McCallum (2nd runner-up); and Na'Shajia Monteiro (4th finalist). (courtesy of photographer Steve Smith)

LEOMINSTER — It was a 17th birthday that local high school student Maggie Leighton will never forget.

A member of Leominster High School's National Honor Society and winner of the 2024 Harvard Book Award, Leighton was recently named Miss Massachusetts' Teen 2024 at the 24th annual pageant held June 16 at BMC Durfee High School in Fall River.

More than a dozen applicants from across the state competed for the title and more than $6,700 was awarded to applicants in scholarships.

Leighton, who competed as a Miss Cranberry Country teen, will compete in the Miss America's Teen pageant in Orlando, Florida, in January 2025. As a Miss Massachusetts teen, she will receive $3,000 in scholarships and various awards and gifts from contest sponsors.

At the national competition, she will have the opportunity to compete for thousands more dollars. Leighton will dedicate her year of service to her personal community service initiative, Play On – Ensuring Access to Music Education.

“The benefits of music education ripple through all areas of a student’s life: it can build self-confidence, reduce anxiety and give students a place where they belong,” Leighton said. “I will use my year of service as a Miss Massachusetts Teen to advocate for all students’ access to school music programs, regardless of their financial situation.”

During the state pageant, the 16 contestants collectively raised nearly $8,000 for the American Heart Association and the Miss America and Miss Massachusetts scholarship organizations.

At Leominster High School, Maggie received the Harvard Book Award in 2024 and is a member of the National Honor Society, where she was inducted as a sophomore.

She is Leominster High School's representative on the Mayor's Youth Council and has received awards for academic excellence in Italian. She is also active in the performing arts at school as a member of the choir and show choir.

An accomplished pianist and singer, Leighton received the Music in the Parks Accompanist Award and the Best Performer Award at the Central Massachusetts Show Choir Festival. Maggie is also very involved in sports at school, where she is a member of the volleyball and tennis teams.

She received honorable mention for Player of the Year for the USA Today High School Sports Award as well as an All-Star Player Award for the Midland Wachusett MA League. She also studies ballet and jazz.

Leighton plans to earn a bachelor's degree in biochemistry and go on to medical school to become a cardiologist. She is the daughter of Jennifer and Corey Leighton of Leominster. For the talent portion of the competition, she sang to Bon Jovi's “Livin' On a Prayer.”

The Miss Massachusetts' Teen Pageant is affiliated with the Miss Massachusetts Scholarship Foundation. The Miss Massachusetts Teen Program provides personal and professional opportunities for young women. For more information about the program, visit www.mmaoteen.org or visit us on Facebook and Instagram.