Miss Teen
America's
Touch of Class 2007
Dani Hanna
Feigenberg
__________________________________________
Dani Hanna Feigenberg of Chicago
Illinois took her local title of (“Miss Teen Chicago A.T.O.C.
2006” to “Miss Teen Illinois 2007” ) to a whole new level and was crowned
“Miss Teen America's Touch of Class 2007” on July 3rd! Dani traveled along
with her family to Las Vegas to compete in the National pageant which was
held on June 28 thru July 3 at the beautiful Cashmen Theater.
Dani is a Seventeen year old, Senior and honor student with a 4.0 GPA. She
is a member of the National Honor Society and has received the President’s
Award for "Outstanding Teen".
Dani plays the piano, guitar and also writes and composes music, sings and
acts. She is also the ONLY GIRL on the boy’s golf team.......GIRL POWER!!!
Dani speaks to many teens on peer pressure, the pressure to change who you
are and breast health awareness, Dani believes self breast exams starting in
the "teen years" can only help eradicate this horrible disease.
Dani's Platform Name: Self Breast Exam Awareness for Teens Girls
Her describing her platform:
My platform is to convince teenage girls across the nation to perform
self-breast exams starting as young as thirteen. It is an uphill battle to
convince teen girls to do self breast exams, as they all feel; breast cancer
would NEVER happen to them. Well, I hope they are right, but I do feel early
detection is the answer.
Why she chose it:
The statistics on breast cancer just last year was one in every seven women
would be diagnosed with breast cancer. This year the statistics have
changed, not for the better....one in every FIVE women now is diagnosed with
breast cancer! Something has to be done about this.
Why volunteering is important, and how can anyone else help:
Volunteering IS important in every walk of life. Breast cancer isn't
selective. it hits all races, rich or poor, educated or not, it hits someone
you know! I would love to see people talk to teens more openly about
self-breast exams,
What is the history of her platform cause?
The history of my platform cause is very simple....women are dying all over
this world due to breast cancer. Yes, we have collected tons and tons of
money for breast cancer research, but still no cure. I strongly believe we
have to start teaching young teens to perform self breast exams and make it
as natural as brushing their teeth....just maybe, this will save a life.
EARLY DETECTION!!! Too many women had never performed self breast exams
until they were diagnosed with breast cancer. They felt it wouldn't happen
to them.
Her information about how and why she became involved:
I am sixteen years old and have already been to five funerals of moms of
friends of mine who died from breast cancer!!!! FIVE!!!! I started to
wonder what I could do to help. Money doesn't seem to be the issue...they
raise millions of dollars every year for breast cancer, and still, the
numbers keep growing of women dying from this horrible disease.
So I decided to talk to women who have breast cancer. What I found out was
90% of the women I spoke to had NEVER done a self breast exam until they
were suddenly diagnosed with this disease. I started to think about things I
do on a regular basis simply because it was taught to me...something like
brushing my teeth....I then thought "Wouldn't it be great if teen girls were
taught from an early age to do self breast exams. Eventually it would be as
normal as brushing your teeth!!!
I went in front of a Board of Pediatricians in Chicago, asked them if they
would consider teaching teen girls self breast exams, and explained why she
felt the need for this. They listened, asked me many questions, took it
under advisement,........and I am proud to say as of January 2007, ALL
pediatricians in Illinois are now instructed to teach teen girls age 13 and
up self breast exams!!!! My goal is for all pediatricians across the world
to start teaching teen girls self breast exams...
and I in turn will keep
speaking to teens across the country on self breast exams.
So please, anyone reading this article, please start talking to your teen
daughters, granddaughters, nieces, friends about self breast exams. Oh sure,
teen girls won't want to hear about it at first, but like so many other
things in teens’ lives......we may look like we 're not listening.....but,
THEY
ARE LISTENING!!!! Trust
me....it's a teen thing....we hear you...we just don't admit it!!!
Dani's Video of Her Winning the National
Title
Dani's
Photo Album
