Photos courtesy of Tiarah Thornton.
Speaking comfortably before an audience is an enviable skill — actually, it’s more akin to a gift. Many of us would prefer to do just about anything else, while a select few actively seek out the podium.
Tiarah Thornton is one of those few.
A senior at Buffalo High School, where she is also enrolled in the dental assisting program at Putnam Career and Technical Center, in West Virginia, Thornton is a standout soccer player and member of the SkillsUSA team. Adding sparkle to her already packed schedule, she was recently crowned the 2026 Miss American Teen.
During competition in Orlando, she wowed the judges in multiple phases of competition, including a first-place nod for her speech. Titled, “Ignite Your Potential,” Thornton presented an abbreviated version of the same speech that had won her accolades at the West Virginia SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference last spring.
“Potential is that spark in someone. They might not know it is there, but it is waiting to be found,” she says. “Potential is seizing every opportunity you have because you don’t know when you will have that chance again.”
Finding Her Voice
At five years old, Thornton endured unimaginable loss when her father passed away from pancreatic cancer. Through their interactions with hospice care, her mother encouraged her to volunteer as a way “to feel normal again.”
By her early teens, Thornton had stepped into the role of an ambassador. Today on her frequent visits to hospice facilities, she offers baskets of snacks and shares a keepsake book she created called “Journal with a Smile.”
“I wanted to give other families who are going through what I went through an opportunity to fill in this journal. In it they can relive happy memories,” she says.
Thornton also established an annual 5K race to raise money for hospice care and works with her 4-H chapter to fill “blessing boxes” in her community. Altogether she estimates she’s clocked in around 3,000 community service hours.
“I feel like the value of volunteering is something that is overlooked, especially by kids my age. But not only are you helping out other people, volunteering helps you feel more accomplished at the end of the day,” she says. “It is the best feeling in the world when I know I helped somebody. Plus it’s a great way to get out in your community. Who doesn’t want to come together as one? That is just something absolutely beautiful.”
Growing up, Thornton recalls being uprooted as her family moved to a neighboring town. But staying still was never in her nature. Thornton participated in gymnastics, cheerleading, swimming, basketball and track, in addition to hobby and glitz pageants. In eighth grade, she was named Ms. Pre Teen United States, her first national title.
“Every single day I have at least one activity outside of school,” she laughs.
A Place to Shine
When high school came into view, Thornton says she was interested in the dental assisting program. As a child, she needed braces and saw her self-confidence blossom with good dental and orthodontic care.
At Putnam Career and Technical Center, the dental assistant program is run by the school’s lead advisor for SkillsUSA.
“She knew about my pageantry and volunteering and encouraged me to compete in the prepared speech division,” Thornton says.
In her speech, she outlines four steps to “Ignite Your Potential,” including believing in yourself and your skills, investing your time in trying something new, to use failure as a chance to learn and grow, and, lastly, focusing your energy on people who uplift you.
“When you surround yourself with a positive support system like SkillsUSA, you’ll find that your potential grows faster and the journey becomes much more rewarding,” Thornton says.
The judges were impressed and despite an unanticipated paperwork error that cost her points, Thornton secured fourth place honors. This year as a seasoned senior, she is ready to return “and conquer.” Confident in her ability to connect with her audience, Thornton hopes to win the top spot in West Virginia so she can compete at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta.
“Aside from public speaking, I love going to different places and meeting different people. It is really fun to meet everyone and talk about how they got involved.”
Thornton is currently preparing to take the registered dental assistant exam but says new opportunities beckon. She recently committed to play soccer at WVU Potomac State College, where she plans to study plant science and horticulture. Her career goal is to join a landscape design team.
It turns out this queen has a green thumb. “I’ve always been more of an outdoorsy kid. I love science and I love plants. My entire room is all plants and flowers.”
