Danville teen is ‘Pretty Amazing’

The San Ramon Valley is chock full of amazing adolescents, but only one will get the chance to be featured in a national magazine with 13 million readers.

Lauren Lindberg, a senior at Monte Vista High School, was recently named one of five finalists in Seventeen magazine’s “Pretty Amazing” contest in which “passionate, creative or mega-talented” teenagers vie for the chance to appear on the cover of Seventeen’s October issue and a $10,000 scholarship.

“This contest is the ultimate celebration of our readers,” said Seventeen’s Editor-in-Chief Ann Shoket. “There are so many amazing, beautiful girls who are making their mark at such a young age — their stories are profoundly inspiring.”

But for Lauren, an amateur documentary filmmaker with several festivals under her belt, the contest was another way to showcase the often unheard voices highlighted in her movies.

“I like stories that are unheard and people that don’t have the capability to voice their own stories,” said Lauren, who made a documentary about blind teens searching for independence that was accepted to 12 international festivals. “It was screened all over and, because of me, it brings awareness to the audience.”

Using equipment from the Bay Area Video Coalition, Lauren traveled to Alaska to film “Advice for the Gulf,” a documentary on the effects that the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill continues to have on residents. The project, she said, has been the most exciting and financially stressful to date.

“These stories have made me grow,” Lauren said in her contest application video. “Through film I can bring social issues to life. I have learned to speak out about important issues and make my voice be heard on a national level.”

Lauren’s film skills, first honed in a middle school film production classroom, have been put to the test for the “Pretty Amazing” competition which requires contestants to make videos that demonstrate why each teen is particularly remarkable.

“Teens will be interested in my story because there are so many amazing girls….but I do something that is accessible to most people. Anyone with a camera…can bring a story to life,” she said.

On June 20, Lauren will travel to New York City with the four other finalists and meet with Shoket, actress Miranda Cosgrove and blogger Jared Eng. They will receive makeovers at a top salon, participate in a cover photo shoot and attend a luncheon with Miranda Cosgrove.

“I am looking forward to being in New York with the finalists in June to spend some time getting to know them,” said Cosgrove. “It was exciting for me when I was on the cover of Seventeen and can only imagine how excited the girls are at this prospect themselves.”

While Lauren is still in the throes of finals, contest deadlines and graduation plans, she said she is looking forward to her trip and thinks she will make a good role model for Seventeen readers.

“I’m kind of nervous, but I think I’m more exited because (winning the contest) would be a great opportunity,” she said. “I would be a great role model because the film industry is pretty male dominated and I’m a female documentary filmmaker.”

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