Houston County High School senior wins Distinguished Young Woman of Georgia
Houston County High School senior wins Distinguished Young Woman of Georgia
Rising senior Abi Bragg won Distinguished Young Woman of Houston County earlier this year
HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — Abi Bragg, a rising senior at Houston County High School, has been crowned the Distinguished Young Woman of Georgia for 2024.
The competition took place over the past weekend in Rome, where Bragg impressed judges and secured $2,900 in scholarships.
Bragg, who was named the Distinguished Young Woman of Houston County earlier this year, will now represent Georgia at the national competition in Mobile, Alabama, scheduled for June 26-28, 2025.
This is the first time Bragg has participated in such a competition, setting her apart from many contestants with prior experience in similar events.
The Distinguished Young Women competition emphasizes a holistic approach, evaluating participants on scholastics, interview skills, talent, fitness, and self-expression.
Bragg initially entered the competition as an at-large candidate, competing virtually before earning a high enough score to advance to the state finals.
At the state level, 50% of the contestants’ scores were determined before they even set foot on the stage, with scholastics and interviews each accounting for 25% of the total score. The remaining 50% was divided among talent (20%), fitness (15%), and self-expression (15%).
Bragg’s inspiration stems from her mother, April Bragg, who participated in the Dublin-Laurens County program when she was in high school. Abi Bragg’s involvement in the program began at a young age, attending her first Distinguished Young Women rehearsal at just 6 days old.
Throughout the competition, Bragg was supported by her community in Houston County, as well as by several women who previously participated in the Distinguished Young Women program. She expressed gratitude for the encouragement and the robust fine arts programs in her county, which she believes have helped her develop into the best version of herself.
As she prepares for the national finals, Bragg remains focused and excited about the journey ahead, aiming to bring pride to Houston County and the state of Georgia.
To participate, you must be in your junior year of high school. All participation begins at the local level either through a local program in some communities or through the at-large program which may be a one-day competition on-site with other girls or even virtually.
Interested girls should apply online at distinguishedyw.org