If you ask Sherri McKinney what she thinks of her daughter competing in tonight's Miss Virginia's Outstanding Teen pageant, she will tell you one thing: It is not a beauty pageant.

The Glen Allen woman's daughter, Miranda Harrison, will be among those showing their skills on stage today in Roanoke. The winner will advance to the Miss America's Outstanding Teen competition in Orlando in August.

The statewide pageant will be televised live on WRIC TV-8 beginning at 8 p.m.

McKinney said her daughter entered to compete for the scholarship money, to show her talents and to be the best she can be.

"By no means is this a beauty pageant for us at all," McKinney said.

In March, Harrison was crowned Miss Outstanding Teen Southeastern Virginia, a local preliminary to the statewide pageant.

"If I hadn't won," Harrison said, "I think I would have still done Miss Virginia's Outstanding Teen."

Harrison is a rising 10th-grader at J.R. Tucker High School and studies vocal music and theater at the Henrico Center for the Arts.

Her talent is her voice.

"I got to sing, which is something I do every day of my life," Harrison said. "I love being on stage. I never really get nervous."

More than $2,000 in scholarships will be awarded at tonight's pageant.

Those who qualify for the Miss America's Outstanding Teen pageant are required to have a platform. Harrison already has tested hers -- "Go Green Girl" -- in the community.

She spoke to Girl Scout groups in the area about recycling and ran a drive with a goal of 300 pounds of recycled goods. "It was very positive -- not a lot of people that I talked to recycled," Harrison said.

The drive topped its goal by 200 pounds.

Contact Sarah Alfaham at (804) 649-6435 or salfaham@timesdispatch.com