Jersey Gianna Smith, age 15, was crowned Miss Pennsylvania’s Teen 2022 at the historic Appell Center for the Performing Arts in York, PA.  Awarded a $8,000 scholarship, she will represent the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at the Miss America’s Teen Competition in August in Dallas, TX.

A native of Carmichaels, Pennsylvania, Jersey performed a lyrical/acrobatic dance to, “Music of the Night” from The Phantom of the Opera. She also won the $500 Preliminary Talent Award and the $500 Overall Talent Award .

As someone who was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata and a frightening medical diagnosis, Jersey shares her experience with hair loss as a teenager and the challenging emotional struggle. Through it, she’s learned that “my true glory” wasn’t her hair or her outward physical appearance. Her true glory has always been what is found on the inside. She partners with the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) and serves as a legislative mentor to raise awareness and the necessity of equitable funding of wigs for those suffering from this autoimmune disease.

She is the daughter of Dan and Joey Lynn Smith and attends Carmichaels Area High School.