Megan Hardy of Austin was recently selected to participate in the Nationals’ 2008 Miss Teen Minneapolis/St. Paul pageant competition, to take place Aug. 17.

Hardy, 12, learned of her acceptance to the pageant — her first — when Nationals Inc. announced its selections July 21. She had submitted an application and took part in an interview session conducted by Patty Neidert, this year’s Minneapolis/St. Paul Pageant coordinator.

Hardy will compete for thousands of dollars in prizes and specialty gifts in the Miss Teen division, one of four. Young women between the ages of 7 and 19 will compete in modeling routines that include casual and formal wear, as well as interviews with a judging panel. The interview is the most heavily weighed of all phases in the competition.

If titled Miss Teen Minneapolis/St. Paul, Hardy would represent the metro area at the Cities of America National Competition in Orlando, Fla. More than $60,000 in prizes and awards will be presented at the event. The six-day trip is all expenses paid.

Thanks to sponsoring local businesses, organizations and private individuals, Hardy will participate in this year’s competition at no cost.

Any business, organization or private individual interested sponsoring Hardy may contact her pageant coordinator, Patty Neidert at (800) 569-2487.