The new Miss Missouri Teen 2023 was crowned Friday night at the Missouri Military Academy with Miss Southern Missouri Teen Gracyn Rouse winning the title.

Rouse is a junior at Thayer High School which sits right on the Arkansas border. The Ledger caught up with Rouse on Saturday morning while she was signing autographs for fans at a meet and greet on the Mexico Square.

Rouse is considered a rookie in the Missouri circuit but she competed last year in the preliminary rounds of the Arkansas system before moving to Missouri.

“I can actually throw a rock into Arkansas from my house,” Rouse said.

Unlike last year, Rouse will get a chance to catch her breath before getting ready to compete for Miss American Teen which will be held this January. She said one of the funniest parts of competing is the planning process which will begin in a few weeks.

“I have a little bit of time to relax and take in the moment,” Rouse said. “Then I’ll start working on paperwork, headshots, choosing a talent, and my wardrobe. All the fun stuff.”

Rouse said she never slept better after winning the crown the night before and was excited to start her first day as Miss Missouri Teen. A big part of being a Miss Missouri Teen is traveling and getting to meet new people all the time. Rouse is looking forward to all of it.

“It’s absolutely amazing to be blessed with an opportunity to be Miss Missouri’s Teen,” Rouse said. “You get to meet all kinds of different people in this job and to be able to have conversations and make connections, it’s wonderful.”

Rouse will head back to school this fall but much of her free time outside of school will be spent traveling and fulfilling her duties as Miss Missouri’s Teen outside of competing for Miss American’s Teen. Rouse said she’s ready for the rigorous schedule.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Rouse said.