NEW YORK, NY – Iris Robare, 17, of Gladstone was named among the Top 15 in the Miss Teen USA competition held over the weekend in the Bahamas. Robare was crowned Miss Teen Michigan last September and was one of 51 contestants in the 2014 Miss Teen USA pageant.

Robare is going to be a senior at the Gladstone High School where she is on the honor roll, a member of the National Honor Society, serves on the student council and a member of Youth in Government. She also competes on the track and cross country team.

Her passion is to spread awareness of mental health issues in teens. She says there is a stigma against mental health. She wants to help teens feel empowered to welcome whatever their biggest worry or fear is in life.

She is interested in a career in teaching or lobbying for mental health issues.

During the Miss Teen USA pageant Robare competed in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview.