Courtesy Candace Paris – Canton Citizen – Issue 42 Published June 24, 2021 

CANTON, Mass. – For Shannon Malloy, senior year at Canton High School brought an unexpected experience – one that required hard work and commitment but resulted in resounding success. Malloy entered, competed in, and was named winner of the 2021 Miss Massachusetts Teen USA pageant held in Lowell on June 12.  

Four days after her win, Malloy fulfilled her first appearance request, at a Hingham day care run by a friend. Some kids there were too young to comprehend anything about her role, Malloy said, but the older ones were very impressed, and all enjoyed seeing (and playing with) her sash and crown. She enjoyed the experience herself because it was fun and helped her fulfill the position's goal of serving as a role model for younger kids.  

Malloy has two more appearances lined up so far plus some photo shoots. She is guided in planning these events by Laurie Clemente, a member of the Malden family that produces stat pageants in Maine and Massachusetts through Clemente Organization.  

How Malloy ended up leaping into the pageant scene from her busy life as a CHS senior and volleyball player is one of those stories of the power of social media. She never thought about pageants, let alone participating ine one until August 2021. Out of the blue, she received a message from a Clemente representative expressing interest in Malloy's Instagram account and inviting her to a pageant information session. 

Malloy said her Instagram pictures are the "same as everyone's," with selfies and pictures of her and her friends having fun in various activities. But she was told her account showed that she had confidence. The information session, set for November, seemed far enough in the distance that Malloy postponed the decision. "I was debating in my head about it, and I finally decided to go kind of last minute," she said.  

The information session and the people she met there sold her on the idea of participating, so the next step was preparing for competition. Nobody in Malloy's family had any more knowledge of pageants than she did, but through a friend of her aunt who runs DanceWorks on Washington Street, Malloy connected with a studio employee who had competed in pageants.  

The woman coached Malloy through the process of learning pageant-style walking, how to present herself, and how to do hair and makeup. They met several times, and Malloy enjoyed the sessions. "It was fun because it was new – and very out of my comfort zone," she said. 

Added to an already busy schedule, pageant preparation months were "very hard, definitely a lot," Malloy noted. Coaching sessions coincided with volleyball season; Malloy also continued to hold down two part-time jobs as a food server at Rosetta's and a country club in Hingham. She said she prefers a packed schedule to "a lot of sitting around," something she got enough of during the pandemic.

While she had a good time practicing for the pageant, Malloy said she "definitely did not expect to win." She was surprised to discover that contrary to the stereotype of mean pageant girls, she found only kindness and a strong sense of community. This positive spirit led to making a lot of new friends with whom she expects to keep in touch.  

The uplifting atmosphere back stage also helped reduce the pressure Malloy felt when she was selected as one of five finalists. She had heard that each contestant would have to answer a question randomly chosen from a fish bowl, which scared her. But asked to list three things she would bring to a desert island, she gave a quick-thinking response of a flashlight, matches, and rope. 

Malloy said she loved winning, especially because it will allow her to speak out on her favorite cause. She describes herself as a "big advocate for the homeless," a cause she has been involved in through activities in Boston with the St. Gerard CYO (Catholic Youth Organization). Following this passion, she plans to major in psychology at Suffolk University and hopes to do social work with kids in the foster care system and people with addiction. 

She will also be busy playing for Suffolk's volleyball team, while preparing for the next level of pageant competition. The national pageant will take place during Thanksgiving weekend 2021 in Tulsa. Malloy said she will be guided by an idea that is very important to her: "Expect nothing, appreciate everything."