Every summer for the past seven decades, 50 high school seniors—one from every state—descend on Mobile, Alabama to take part in one of the country’s most lucrative scholarship competitions for teen girls. 

The Competition takes you behind the scenes of the Distinguished Young Women (DYW) program, and follows seven girls as they experience the highs and lows of competing for two weeks, away from home and under the most high-stress circumstances. Some girls enter for the money, some for prestige. All of them are used to being the best and the brightest. But only one will walk away with the top prize.

Host Shima Oliaee (Dolly Parton’s America, Pink Card) was Nevada’s contestant in 2001. More than 20 years later, she returns to Alabama as a judge. What can two weeks with 50 of the country’s most ambitious teens tell us about girlhood in America?

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Kirk’s heart skipped a beat when he first saw Jenny crossing the college campus. There was only one problem: Jenny was dating someone else and didn’t even know he existed. But eighteen years later, a Facebook algorithm brought Kirk back into Jenny’s life, and he finally landed a first date with her. It would take a “Say Anything”-level grand gesture to win her back. And Ingrid shares the grand gesture that almost worked on her. 

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Introducing The Moment, a new series from Wondery coming July 10th.

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