BEDFORD – With television shows, like We TV’s “Little Miss Perfect” displaying young girls dolled out in overpriced gowns and makeup, it might be hard for some people to look outside of the pageant stereotype.

But to one Bedford High School student, 16-year-old Nicole Martucci, that stereotype didn’t matter. She was ready to try something new – something she wanted to do – and she walked away with the experience of a lifetime.

“It’s more than just a pageant; it’s about bettering yourself and the community,” she said.

Martucci joined 25 contestants from across the state to participate in the sixth annual Miss New Hampshire’s Outstanding Teen Competition on Jan. 16-17 at the Stockbridge Theatre in Pinkerton Academy’s Spaulding Arts & Humanities Center in Derry.

The Miss New Hampshire’s Outstanding Teen Competition is the little sister program to the Miss America program, intended to encourage and reward talent, communication skills, community service and academic achievement for girls between the ages of 13 and 17.

During Saturday’s preliminary competition, contestants were scored in categories that included: interview, talent, evening wear and on-stage question, lifestyle and fitness in sportswear and scholastic achievement. The largest portion of the total score fell in the talent category, which was worth 35-percent. The top 10 finalists moved onto Sunday’s final competition where they were scored in talent, evening wear and sportswear.

Lauren April, of Auburn, took home the 2010 title, receiving scholarships totaling $1,500. She will compete at the sixth annual Miss America’s Outstanding Teen in August in Orlando, Fla.

The first runner-up title went to Lauren Percy, of Bow, and Merrimack’s Angela Berube left as the second runner-up. Although Martucci didn’t place in the top 10, representatives from the Miss New Hampshire’s Outstanding Teen Competition had great things to say about her performance.

“I think Nicole did great for her first ever competition of this nature. She has excellent academic credentials,” said Brenda Keith, president and executive director of the Miss New Hampshire Scholarship Program.

And based on her own experience, Martucci agrees.

“I think I did really well for not knowing what I was doing,” she laughed. “I overcame my fear of singing in front of people; it was the first time I wasn’t shaking when I sang in front of a crowd.”

Martucci sang “Sebben Crudele” in Italian for the talent portion of the competition.

“The first time I heard her practice, I pulled up to the house and thought I was at the wrong house,” her father, John Martucci, laughed. “Nicole has the voice of an angel.”

But singing isn’t the only talent the versatile 3.97 GPA student at Bedford High School possesses. She’s a member of the winter cross-country team, the spring track team, a second-degree black belt and plays eight instruments fluently.

For the competition, Martucci had to choose an issue she cares deeply about, that is of relevance to our country. She chose to inform people about the effects of bullying.

“It also affects the victim’s family and friends,” she said.

Martucci’s family was part of a forum held at the Bedford Public Library this past summer to inform school principals and board members about the bullying that was going on across the district. Martucci hopes she can visit schools to talk with students about the effects of bullying in the future but said she walked away from the pageant with more than just courage to stand up for her beliefs. She walked away with 25 new friends.

“They were all so helpful, especially in the dressing room,” she said. “I had the biggest issues with curling my hair and all the girls were so helpful because they had done it before.”

Martucci said the competition opened her eyes to new things and she plans to look into upcoming pageants.

“I think it’s something every girl should try at least once,” she said.