Leonard named national Junior Miss

Madison Leonard, 2010 Coeur d'Alene Junior Miss and Idaho's Junior Miss, became America's Junior Miss for 2010 on Saturday night in Mobile, Ala.

The title was renamed this year, however, so Leonard officially became America's first Distinguished Young Women scholarship competition winner.

"It's huge," said Kim Washko, Coeur d'Alene local chair of Junior Miss. Washko said Leonard earned more than $40,000 in scholarships.

Leonard had a GPA of 4.44 at Coeur d'Alene High School and was salutatorian of the class of 2010.

The 53rd America's Junior Miss National Finals ran Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Mobile Civic Center Theater. Fifty young women competed for the title.

Leonard, 18, is from Hayden Lake, and her parents are Paul and Denise Leonard.