Join Us For The Next
Miss Teen International Pageant
July 24th and 25th , 2025
IN KINGSPORT, TENNESSEE
Samantha Kerfoot - Top Ten
Teen Dating Abuse is serious and can vary from psychological and emotional abuse, to physical abuse, and even sexual abuse. The numbers are alarming—some studies show that one in four teenage girls will be in an abusive relationship. Ninety-five percent of teenage girls in these relationships don't reach out for help. One of these girls may be someone you know!
Why I chose this issue: This serious epidemic has been one that I have always known was out there but never really thought of as something I needed to anything about or stand up for. I now realize after having personal experiences, seeing friends go through it, and hearing the statistics, that it needs to be recognized. So many people hear about incidences and know about dangerous situations occurring but they refuse to make a stand. I do not want to be one of those people. I want to let teens know that they are not alone and they have someone to talk to and feel comfortable around. I also want friends and family members to be aware of the warning signs and be able to step in and help when needed.
The Warning Signs of Teen Dating Abuse:
Some of the ways parents can help are:
I want to help make identifying a teen in an abusive relationship easier for parents and friends. It is important to take into consideration that those steps will most likely be very different for friends trying to help compared to family members stepping in when necessary. As Miss Teen International® 2007 I will continue to bring awareness, and spread the message about this serious epidemic that is affecting so many of today’s teenagers.
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Miss Teen International® Pageant
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