Shaler Area High School freshman Mariah Malloy was named first runner-up in the country at the national competition for the National American Miss pageant.

Mariah was crowned Miss Pennsylvania Junior Teen, in division 1, of the National American Miss pageant competition in August and represented the state in the National American Miss Pageant, in Anaheim, Calif.

The journey to Nationals was not without its challenges that included canceled flights and an illness that threatened Mariah’s voice and required an emergency doctor’s visit, but Mariah said if she learned one thing through the experience, it was “perseverance.”

“It took me seven pageants, four years to win my very first pageant,” Mariah Malloy said. “Year after year I gave it my all … No matter what life throws at you, you keep trying and it pays off in the end.”

National American Miss had 15,000 state finalists in their pageant system this year, and Mariah competed against state queens from across the United States.

Mariah was judged for her personal introduction, interview and evening gown presentation and danced in two production numbers during the pageant.

During the nationwide competition, Mariah was named 4^th runner-up in the Talent competition, 3rd runner-up in the Actress competition and 1st runner-up for Miss Personality as voted on by the other state queens. The choreographers also presented Mariah with a Spirit Award.

As part of her reign as Miss Pennsylvania and ambassador for Queens for a Cause, Mariah will complete community service throughout the Pittsburgh area.

In December, Mariah delivered school supplies and books, collected by contestants at the state pageant, to Pittsburgh Roosevelt Elementary School in Carrick and Rogers Primary School in Shaler.