Windham's Quimby named Mr. Teen Maine by Leah Hoenen

When a friend texted Parker Quimby and asked if he would compete in the inaugural Mr. Teen Maine pageant, Parker was a little hesitant. His initial skepticism quickly faded away.

“I’ve never done anything like a pageant before. I did it because it looked like fun and it could look good on a résumé,” said Parker, a 13-year-old Windham resident and Windham Middle School student. “It’s not something people usually do, especially men. I think it could be a good story to tell my grandchildren when I’m 80.”

Someday, he’ll tell his grandchildren how he won that pageant.
No stranger to the stage, Parker donned a black suit and red tie, demonstrated his personality by skipping across the stage, turning and pointing at the crowd. He also performed the death scene from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” and explained why he considers Abraham Lincoln a role model.

Pageant contestants were required to answer an impromptu question on stage, perform, do a style walk demonstrating their personality and raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN). 

“It’s for such a good cause,” said Parker. Overall, the March 24 competition raised more than $1,000 for the CMN, and Parker raised $450 through a Facebook page and another website he created to generate funds for the competition. 

Relaxed in jeans and a T-shirt, Parker is affable and gracious as he describes the day of the competition.

“I’ve done plays at school, but I’ve never done anything like that with that kind of writing,” said Parker. “It’s a very dramatic scene and it’s famous. People knew what it was about. They’ve heard about Romeo and Juliet, but I didn’t think they understood all of it. So, I gave some background and performed the scene,” he said.

Parker has already been in two plays in middle school and is looking forward to continuing acting in high school. “I do sports, and I did some clubs. Then, in seventh grade, I tried out for a play and got a pretty good role,” he said.
The week after the competition, Parker’s win was announced at his school, and the school librarian made a cardboard crown for him to wear. “I’m still getting congratulations, which is cool,” he said.

Parker also keeps busy as a three-season track athlete. Then, there’s school.
“I’ve always liked science and math. Physics has always interested me – I love atoms and subatomic particles,” he says. Contemplating a college career at Stanford or Yale, he says he can’t decide yet between the stage and physics.
As far as another pageant, he sounded undecided. “I guess if the opportunity came along, I would consider doing it again,” he said. “It was a good experience.”