During the Miss Montana Teen USA pageant held Oct. 7 in Missoula, two Glacier High School students placed in the top five.

Senior Adrienne Grande, 17, representing Kalispell, was named third runner-up. Grande is the daughter of Tina and Brian Grande.

Junior Madyson Rigg, 16, represented Flathead Valley and earned the fourth runner-up honor. She was also chosen from among the Miss Teen and Miss Montana contestants as “Miss Photogenic.” Rigg is the daughter of Ann and Robert Rigg of Kalispell.

Maurissa Gunn, representing Laurel, was crowned Miss Montana Teen USA.

Grande said she still loves the spotlight, which is why she has competed for two years.

“I grew up in competitive cheer, so I feed off of the energy,” Grande said.

Grande may decide to hang up her sash for awhile when she starts her first year of college next year.

This is the first pageant competition for Rigg and she plans to compete again next year.

“I wanted to compete because of all the opportunities that come from being involved in programs like it,” Rigg said, noting exposure to modeling agencies.

An important component of competition is walking on stage. Grande said received help from the Miss Montana and Teen Montana 2012 winners. She also had a coach to practice interview questions. Rigg said she practiced walking around her house in high heels before the competition.

“Once you get to the pageant, all of the day before the pageant is spent in rehearsals, so you have a ton of practice before competition,” Rigg said.

Both Rigg and Grande said pageants are relevant in today’s society because they build self-confidence and self-image on and off the stage.

“It’s really easy to say that pageants encourage negative body image in young girls, but honestly they really focus on accepting your body and working to reach personal goals and to keep yourself healthy,” Rigg said.

Grande noted that the pageants also have helped her with public speaking through answering on-stage questions. One personal goal she achieved was speaking about an issue she felt strongly about — bullying.

“Yes, only five place out of all the girls and get trophies, but I think the real prize is what I got from being involved — life-long friends I would have never met if not for Miss Teen Montana and confidence in myself, which is so important in every girl’s life,” Grande said.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.