. . . a positive youth outreach program from America's Junior Miss

The AJM's "Be Your Best Self" program is a nationwide outreach aimed primarily at influencing young people. Adopted to be an AJM platform in 1987, the Be Your Best Self program is an endeavor through which Junior Misses incorporate a positive, personal approach into working with young people to encourage self-esteem, thereby helping them successfully deal with challenges they face. In 2004 and 2005 America’s Junior Miss awarded the Payne County’s Junior Miss Program a very distinguished award, The “Outstanding Local “Be Your Best Self” Program in America”, out of 600 local Junior Miss programs.

Positive Role Models

Because they are positive role models, Junior Misses are often asked by various organizations, especially elementary, middle and high schools, to make personal appearances. The Be Your Best Self program gives them the opportunity to approach each appearance with a definite mission and message.

America’s Junior Miss Scholarship Program is teaming up with Girl Scouts of America to create relationships between local Girl Scout troops and our National Finals participants. At AJM, we strive to motivate and reward young women who have worked hard to succeed in their scholastic and extracurricular activities. Through our partnership with the Girl Scouts, we encourage our participants to share their experiences and goals with your troop members through our Be Your Best Self program. Be Your Best Self, AJM’s national outreach, focuses on increasing self-esteem in young people through five major points:

- Be healthy
- Be Involved
- Be Studious
- Be Ambitious
- Be Responsible

Promotes Excellence

The program is designed to promote literacy, all-around excellence and self-esteem in young people. It involves Junior Misses reaching out to young people and encouraging them to make a commitment to being their best selves in areas including academics, physical fitness, morality, character, and social and civic concern and participation. It includes, but is not restricted to, encouraging young people as they face the challenges of dealing with negative peer pressure and avoiding the perils of the abuse of alcohol and other drugs. Drawing on their personal experiences, Junior Misses deliver helpful messages emphasizing the importance of setting goals and striving to reach them.

Life Values

Junior Misses talk of the satisfaction that comes when a person lives life always trying to do his or her best. They emphasize the importance of saying "No" to alcohol and other drugs and saying "Yes" to literacy and education. They stress the importance of families and relationships.

We all should try to do our best. That is an integral part of the Junior Miss philosophy, and Junior Misses in communities across the country are using the Be Your Best Self program as a platform from which to deliver that message.