Meredith Charboneau, Miss Texarkana – Teen
Meredith Charboneau is the 17-year-old daughter of Chris and Amber Charboneau and a senior at Kingwood High School. At Kingwood, Meredith is the President and varsity violinist in the orchestra, President of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, and a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council. She has one older sister, Madeline, and one younger brother, Graham. “My family has been there through thick and thin. They have been there to cheer me on at every extra-curricular event and have encouraged me to be the best version of myself in every aspect of my life,” Meredith says. “I could not do this without them!”
After high school, Meredith’s plans include attending a four-year university and majoring in biomedical sciences to pursue a career in the medical field. “The Miss America Opportunity has been instrumental in developing my heart for service and providing scholarships to make my educational dreams possible!” Meredith says.
Meredith has been involved in the Miss America Opportunity since 2016 but has only been competing since 2019. “In my time with the organization, I have experienced the love and sisterhood that encompasses this group, and I have been amazed at the development I have seen in myself since competing,” Meredith says. “ I absolutely love the mission of this organization and knew I wanted to compete again this year!”
To prepare for Miss Texarkana, Meredith participated in many mock interviews. “I am blessed to have worked with Lisa Spooner on my interview and am looking forward to continuing in preparation for Miss Texas,” Meredith says.
Meredith also prepared a traditional Hungarian piece called Czardas on her violin. She has been playing violin for 12 years and has a lot of fun performing for an audience. “I am proud of my violin performance!” Meredith says. “Playing a challenging technical piece like Czardas
while keeping it entertaining for the audience can be tricky, and I am honored to have received the talent award.”
The Miss America Opportunity provides a platform for girls to advocate for a cause they believe in, called the Community Service Initiative or ‘CSI.’ Each of the girls who competed in the Miss Texarkana Twin Rivers pageant had their own CSI topic, and Meredith says that one of the highlights from the pageant was learning about the girls’ different passions. “Each of the girls had their own CSI topic, and I loved learning about the work they were doing in their communities to make an impact,” Meredith says.
Meredith’s CSI is Mind’s Key, which focuses on music’s impact on the brain, particularly with the elderly community and those with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. “I perform throughout my community with my string quartet at local retirement homes and memory centers in hopes of helping with their memory recovery and bringing joy to the residents and staff,” Meredith says. “I am also a huge advocate for encouraging servitude within the youth. I believe everyone can use their gifts to impact their communities.”
After all her preparations, Meredith was filled with joy when her name was called on the stage that night to accept the title of Miss Texarkana – Teen. “There were so many incredible girls competing, and I am beyond grateful to have been given the opportunity to represent the city of Texarkana on the Miss Texas stage!” Meredith says.
Even though the win was exhilarating, Meredith has already started preparing for the Miss Texas Competition in June. “There is so much preparation leading up to the competition, including prepping for the interview, staying active, and advocating throughout the community for my CSI,” Meredith says. “There is much to be done, but I am blessed to have an incredible board to help me along the way!”
Meredith says that if other young girls are looking for opportunities to develop their professional skills, earn scholarships, and meet like-minded girls, they must consider the Miss America Opportunity. “This program is incredibly unique and is an experience that will change your life and propel you to success,” Meredith says. “If you are looking to compete, don’t hesitate to reach out to a local titleholder or director; we would love to help you get started!”
Fun Facts:
- The most beautiful girls are the ones who make others feel loved.
- Most people don’t know that I love to go country dancing!
- If I could tell my younger self anything, I would tell her it is all in God’s perfect timing.
- I am passionate about music and serving others.
- My guilty pleasure food is cheesecake!