Pageants have always been fiercely competitive, but this year it gets personal. Senior Danielle Mazzuchi is in the running for Miss Maryland Teen USA.

The Miss Maryland Teen USA competition features contestants from all around the state between the ages of 15 to 19. The winner will advance to the national Miss Teen USA competition later in the spring.

“I’m really excited; it’s good to open new doors,” said Mazzuchi.

Mazzuchi was originally signed up for the pageant on a whim by her mother. Prospective delegates send in their name and a picture after getting a flier in the mail. To her surprise she was called back for a phone interview.,

“I’m going into it blindfolded, I’ve never been to a pageant before” Mazzuchi said.

Mazzuchi will be representing the city of Oxon Hill this year. Her mother’s residence in Maryland allows her to compete, while her father lives here in Springfield.

The pageant will take place at the end of October in Bethesda. The 75 selected contestants will be judged in an evening gown, a swim suit and an interview.

It is open to the public, and through audience applause, a “crowd favorite” will be chosen among the contestants.

“I really think this means you can accomplish anything you pursue,” Mazzuchi said.

While new to the pageant experience, she is making sure to come prepared.

“Lots of shopping, going to the gym, and my family is helping me the whole time,” Mazzuchi said. For the interview, she is prepping for the volley of questions she knows will come her way.

“I’ve been watching videos of previous pageants, going over past questions and I’ve attended other pageants to get a feel for it.”

While the grand prize is a $45,000 scholarship and a spot in the national competition, Mazzuchi is feels the real prize will be the entire process.

“It’s going to be a once in a lifetime experience, and I’ll get to meet a lot of new people who are like me but are also very different.”

Mazzuchi is used to hanging out in sweats in The Oracle office—the “style” she usually concentrates on is in writing, so the pageant is something new and different.

“I’m not really nervous, more like excited,” said Mazzuchi.