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Not this time.
At last Friday's Miss Pennsylvania's Outstanding Teen competition, the 16-year-old Penn Manor student calmly told the panel that she would ask Gov. Ed Rendell to provide more funding for arts programs.
Then Wiley was asked what she would change about herself.
"I thought about it and said, 'You know what? I wouldn't change anything,' " Wiley said. "I think that got the judges' attention. I told them I was very comfortable with myself, and, as a role model for teens across the state, Miss Pennsylvania should be true to herself."
The move paid off, as Wiley was crowned Miss Pennsylvania's Outstanding Teen at Syria Mosque outside of Pittsburgh. The Washington Boro native and daughter of Keith and Debra Wiley will now compete for Miss America's Outstanding Teen, a sister pageant to the famous Miss America competition, in Orlando next month.
Pageant week kicks off Aug. 7, and the preliminary competitions will take place Aug. 11-13. If Wiley makes it past the first rounds, she'll take part in the finals Aug. 15.
The organization raises money for the Children's Miracle Network and promotes scholastics, creativity, community service and healthy living.
Winning the state crown marked the high point in Wiley's three years of Outstanding Teen competitions. Last year, as Miss York County, Wiley made fourth runner-up. But representing central Pennsylvania this year everything went perfectly.
"I was told my knees gave out," Wiley said of her reaction to winning at states. "I know I covered my face and kind of crouched, but I didn't fall.
"Then they gave me the crown and sash and flowers, and I just stood there until they said, 'You know, you can take your walk now.' "
Next up for Wiley is a slew of public appearances, including a parade in Philadelphia on Friday. Then it's off to prepare for the national competition, a task that will take up much of her next four weeks.
The busy schedule is nothing new for Wiley, who is very active in the performing arts. Since she was 8, Wiley has been onstage at Penn Manor, community theaters in Ephrata and Hershey and professional theaters such as the Fulton Opera House and Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre.
Wiley's biggest role came in Penn Manor's production of "Beauty and the Beast," when she played the lead, Belle.
"Things happened to me that aren't supposed to happen," Wiley said. "Little girls would come up to me and say to their parents, 'Look, there's Belle!' "
Wiley used a song from another Disney stage adaptation, "Beyond My Wildest Dreams" from "The Little Mermaid," in the talent portion of the Outstanding Teen competition.
Wiley said that while winning nationals would be a thrill, losing wouldn't be the end of the world.
"I would be in for a whirlwind of adventure," Wiley said.
E-mail: drorabaugh@lnpnews.com
