With jittering hearts and flowing dresses, hundreds of girls prepare to show off their elegance and talent. As the lights shine down on the stage, each young woman represents their city from Texas while showcasing a variety of skills they prepared for months on end.
Miss Texas Teen takes place annually, displaying each competitor’s brain and beauty in order to select one winner. Each city in the state of Texas crowns a fourteen to nineteen-year-old candidate to represent their city. Although all contestants hope to win, they also spend time enjoying the memories created along the way. The pageant took place during the last week of June at the Eisemann Center in Richardson, Texas.
Freshman Alexis Mayo, sophomore Olivia Dowd and senior Claire Hodge all represented their city and school by showcasing their presenting skills, talents, attire and more.
“It was such an honor to represent Texarkana and THS on the Miss Texas stage,” Dowd said. “Walking out [on stage], knowing I was carrying the support of my hometown and school made the experience much more meaningful.”
Although participants get the opportunity to perform in four different categories, each one holds a special place in their hearts.
“A favorite memory I have is talent day because I got to sing on stage and wear a beautiful dark purple dress,” Mayo said. “I sang ‘You Will Be Found’ and cannot wait for next year.”
Preparing for a state level pageant takes many months, and each girl worked diligently to prepare. Hodge went through surgery before participating in Miss Texas Teen, so she made sure to prioritize her recovery in order to ensure she performed her best in the fitness portion.
“A lot of my prep was just focusing on getting my health back up,” Hodge said. “[I did this so that] I could be better equipped for my talent and fitness performances.”
To prepare for the state pageant, Mayo spent her time taking voice lessons to ensure her vocal cords were strong and smooth. Dowd spent her time taking piano lessons, practicing interviews, and dedicating herself to her Community Service Initiative.
“[The title of my initiative is] One Pill Can Kill; One Spray Can Save. The day after I won my title, the work began,” Dowd said. “I published my children’s book, continued my middle and high school program, and was able to reach, educate, and/or impact over 10,000 people during my preparation.”
Along with much support from their town and school, Texarkana’s three contestants ended their week with pride.
“Just as I finished and walked out of the interview room, my delegates, family and directors were waiting for me so we could talk about how great my interview was,” Dowd said. “It became a moment I’ll never forget.”
