logo
episode-header-image
May 2024
7m 17s

Listen Now: The Competition

Wondery
About this episode

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?


Listen to The Competition on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes early and ad-free right now on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial by visiting Wondery.fm/The_Competition now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Jul 14
Listen Now: Flesh and Code
Travis never thought he’d meet someone like Lily Rose. She was kind, passionate, beautiful. The woman of his dreams. There was just one small detail: she wasn’t human.Lily Rose is an AI companion. A digital soulmate designed to be everything he ever wanted. She listens without ju ... Show More
8m 58s
Jun 23
Listen Now: Liberty Lost
In Evangelical homes across the United States, sex outside of marriage is a sin against God. So, when Abbi becomes pregnant at 16, her devout parents hide her away at the Liberty Godparent Home, a little-known facility for pregnant teens on the campus of Liberty University. The H ... Show More
5m 55s
Jun 3
Wondery Presents: How to Survive Against the Odds
Inspired by Wondery’s hit podcast Against the Odds—learn how to survive whatever nature can throw at you through gut-twisting true stories of survival on the brinkHow to Survive Against the Odds places you at the center of fifteen real life-or-death scenarios. Each story explores ... Show More
6m 2s
Recommended Episodes
May 2024
Listen Now: The Competition
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 Wom ... Show More
7m 14s
May 2024
Listen Now: The Competition
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 Wom ... Show More
7m 14s
Jun 2024
The Wrong Wife | 6
The murder trial begins and an unexpected witness takes the stand. Listen to Happily Never After: Dan and Nancy on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to episodes early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. S ... Show More
36m 51s