A Lafayette County High School student is preparing to represent her region on the state stage while giving back to her community along the way.
Seventeen-year-old Isabelle Liberty Newman of Higginsville recently earned the title of Miss Katy Trail’s Teen, qualifying her to compete at the Miss Missouri’s Teen state competition scheduled for June 10–12, 2026, in Mexico, Missouri. The statewide event is part of the Miss America’s Teen program and offers scholarship opportunities for participants.
As she prepares for the state competition, Newman is also launching a series of free community workshops called “Crown Your Confidence.” The events are designed to encourage confidence and connection among young people across Missouri and are open to anyone who would like to attend.
The Miss America’s Teen program is built around what organizers call the “Four Points of the Crown” — service, scholarship, success, and style — which emphasize community involvement, academic achievement, leadership skills, and personal presentation.
Newman reflects those values through a wide range of activities at Lafayette County High School. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council, and Future Business Leaders of America, while also participating as a varsity football cheerleader, winter color guard member, and saxophonist in the school band.
For the talent portion of the pageant, Newman plans to perform speed painting, combining art and performance in a high-energy routine.
Her next Crown Your Confidence event is scheduled for March 20 at Heidi Lynn Photography Studio, 1822 N. Main Street in Higginsville. The workshop is the third of six community events Newman plans to host ahead of the state competition.
Newman says the goal of the workshops is to inspire young women and help them build confidence through activities focused on art, fitness, and positive self-talk.
Community members can follow Newman’s journey to the state competition through her social media pages on Instagram (@misskatytrailsteenmo) and Facebook (Miss Katy Trail’s Teen).
If she wins the state title in June, Newman would advance to compete nationally for the title of Miss America’s Teen
