Jax teen crowned Miss Florida Outstanding Teen

Leah Sykes, 16, new queen
Author: Hailey Winslow

JACKSONVILLE, Fla A 16-year-old from Jacksonville holds a new title and a very impressive background. Leah Sykes was crowned Miss Florida's Outstanding Teen 2014 on August 17. Sykes sang for Channel 4’s cameras Tuesday night, which we quickly learned is just one of her many talents. What impressed us the most about the 16-year-old is her enormous heart. Sykes has already started her own foundation to create a handicapped accessible beach park, making it easier for disabled people to enjoy the beach.

“Especially here in Florida it’s often something we take for granted, the beautiful sunrises, or the water or sand and I wanted to get that opportunity to everyone,” said Sykes. Sykes will now be able to take her platform across the country and serve as the teenage ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Sykes first pageant was in January, and she explained it was something she never thought she’d do, let alone to win the crown for Miss Florida’s Outstanding Teen. “The way society views pageants is always toddlers and tiaras and Honey Booboo, and although I love those shows, I don’t condone anybody who does that. I wasn’t necessarily interested in being part of anything like that,” said Sykes.

Sykes changed her mind when she went to watch a pageant and became inspired. “It was about rewarding, talented, intelligent, young women who are actually doing things in the community,” said Sykes.

Ads designed for Jackie Garcia-Casals | MISS FL TEEN USA Pageant (USA System)

Ads designed forJackie Garcia-Casals, Miss Miami Lakes Teen USA 2014, for the MISS FLORIDA TEEN USA 2014 Pageant • We offer graphic design solutions for all your pageantry needs! ALL STATES, ALL AGES, ALL PAGEANT SYSTEMS WELCOME!

Ads designed for Amanda Shoopman | MISS FL TEEN USA Pageant (USA System)

Ads designed for Amanda Shoopman, Miss Deland Teen USA 2014, for the MISS FLORIDA TEEN USA 2014 Pageant • We offer graphic design solutions for all your pageantry needs! ALL STATES, ALL AGES, ALL PAGEANT SYSTEMS WELCOME!

Ads designed for Aria Armstead | MISS FL TEEN USA Pageant (USA System)

Ads designed for Aria Armstead for the MISS FLORIDA TEEN USA 2014 Pageant • We offer graphic design solutions for all your pageantry needs! ALL STATES, ALL AGES, ALL PAGEANT SYSTEMS WELCOME!

Newly crowned Miss Teen USA: "I was a victim of cybercrime"

by Scott Stump

Only months before California’s Cassidy Wolf was crowned Miss Teen USA 2013, she was a victim of a serious cybercrime that has triggered a federal investigation.

Wolf, 19, who was selected as this year’s winner at Saturday night’s pageant at the Atlantis hotel in the Bahamas, hopes to spread awareness of the dangers of online crime during her upcoming one-year reign.
“This all happened before I had a title,’’ Cassidy told TODAY.com. “I was just a normal girl in high school. This next year I’m just so excited to be able to share my story and raise awareness in young teens about what can happen.”

About four months ago, Wolf said she was notified through Facebook that someone had tried to log into her account from another state. She then received an anonymous e-mail from a stranger saying he was in possession of photos of her that were taken in her bedroom via the webcam on her computer after it was hacked. The person tried to extort her in return for ensuring the photos were not made public. She cannot divulge all the specific details because the incident is now under federal investigation.
“I wasn’t aware that somebody was watching me (on my webcam),’’ she said. “The light (on the camera) didn’t even go on, so I had no idea.”

After being named Miss California, Wolf traveled to local schools near her home in Temecula to speak with students about protecting themselves from potential cybercrime. She hopes to continue that work during her time outside of school, as the college freshman will be attending New York Film Academy in New York City starting in the fall. Her tips for protection against hackers include changing passwords frequently and making them unique by using symbols and different characters, deleting cookies and browsing history regularly, and putting a sticker over the computer’s webcam when you’re not using it.

Her campaign against cybercrime is just one of many causes Wolf has been active in. She also works with Best Buddies, which helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as Project Sunshine, which provides programs for children with medical challenges.

She had only been competing in pageants for two years before wearing the crown on Saturday night.
“I was shocked and overwhelmed,’’ she said. “I don’t remember how I was feeling. I was crying, I was so happy.” Wolf edged out 51 other women to take the title. South Carolina’s Tori Sizemore was the first runner-up, followed by West Virginia’s Haley Holloway in third place.

Ads designed for Tiffany Rivera | MISS FL TEEN USA Pageant (USA System)

Ads designed for Tiffany Rivera for the MISS FLORIDA TEEN USA 2014 Pageant • We offer graphic design solutions for all your pageantry needs! ALL STATES, ALL AGES, ALL PAGEANT SYSTEMS WELCOME!

Miss California crowned Miss Teen USA

(source: Fox5 San Diego)

SAN DIEGO – A young lady from Temecula was crowned Miss Teen USA 2013 this weekend in The Bahamas.

Cassidy Wolf, 19, beat out 51 women to win the annual pageant, which is co-owned by Donald Trump and NBC Universal.

The college freshman has been dancing since she was 2-years-old winning awards and scholarships.

She supports several organizations including Steps4Paws, The Gentle Barn, Best Buddies, San Diego Youth at Risk and KAR Dancer Against Cancer. Wolf travels to classrooms and tells her story of being cyber-crime victim and how to prevent it.

Tori Sizemore of South Carolina was the first runner up, while Haley Holloway of West Virginia took third place.

Read more: http://fox5sandiego.com/2013/08/11/miss-california-crowned-miss-teen-usa/#ixzz2bkrHPX5Z

Congratulations Cassidy Wolf, our new MISS TEEN USA!

Cassidy Wolf, 19, from California was crowned Miss Teen USA 2013 at Atlantis, Paradise Island, The Bahamas on Saturday, August 10, 2013. Congratulations and we look forward to the upcoming year.

Ad designed for Catalina Peterman, Miss Pensacola Teen USA 2014 | MISS FL Teen USA Pageant (USA System)

Ad designed for Catalina Peterman for the MISS FLORIDA TEEN USA 2014 Pageant • We offer graphic design solutions for all your pageantry needs! ALL STATES, ALL AGES, ALL PAGEANT SYSTEMS WELCOME!

MISS TEEN USA 2013: Focus on Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2013, Samantha Neyland

(source: http://worldshowbiz.info)

Meet Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2013 Samantha Neyland! Neyland was born in Fort Benning, Georgia to proud parents Joanne and Alan Neyland. As a military child, she has been fortunate to travel the world and live in Alabama; Louisiana; Madrid, Spain; Tokyo, Japan; and now Honolulu, Hawaii. Samantha moved to Hawaii only 15 months before winning the crown, making her win not only a personal victory but a victory for the military community as well. While there have been previous Teen USA titleholders who were military dependents, Samantha is the only one this year and uses that to encourage other military children to get involved in their local communities. Having been immersed in different cultures, backgrounds and ethnicities gives Samantha a greater respect for all types of people and the unique ability to represent them as well.

Samantha graduated from Moanalua High School on May 17, 2013 and plans to attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa as a communications major. She is also very active as a model for Wilhelmina Hawaii and has even modeled in a fashionshow with Paris Hilton. Through the rest of her reign and years to come Samantha hopes to continue pursuing her love of modeling, community service, and public speaking.

Samantha Neyland was crowned Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2013 at the finale of the State’s pageant held on October 21, 2012 at the Ala Moana Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii. The beauty from Honolulu is 17 years old and stands 5’ 6”. She will represent Hawaii in the Miss Teen USA 2013 beauty pageant, to be held in Bahamas on August 10th, 2013.

Ads designed for Chloe Alford, Junior Miss River City 2013 | MISS NW FL Pageant (NW FL System)

Ads designed for Chloe Alford for the MISS NORTH WEST FLORIDA 2012 Pageant • We offer graphic design solutions for all your pageantry needs! ALL STATES, ALL AGES, ALL PAGEANT SYSTEMS WELCOME!

More MISS TEEN USA 2013 Contestant Introductions!

2013 MISS TEEN USA - Contestant Interviews (FLORIDA)

Ads designed for Daniela Kletkin, Miss West Broward USA 2013 | MISS FL USA Pageant (USA System)

Ads designed for Daniela Kletkin for the MISS FLORIDA USA 2014 Pageant • We offer graphic design solutions for all your pageantry needs! ALL STATES, ALL AGES, ALL PAGEANT SYSTEMS WELCOME!

Miss USA Erin Brady at Bennie Dover Middle School

Kelsea Campbell, Miss New Hampshire Teen USA 2013, gearing up for Miss Teen USA competition

By ADAM SWIFT
Union Leader Correspondent
Newhampshire.com

AUBURN — After Kelsea Campbell of Auburn watched her older sister compete in the Miss Teen New Hampshire pageant in 2007, she was hooked. “I fell in love with the pageant,” said Campbell, 18. Over the next five years, Campbell prepared to compete in the pageant herself, and last November, those years of preparation paid off.

Competing in her first pageant, Campbell was crowned Miss Teen New Hampshire 2013 and will now go on to compete in the Miss Teen USA competition at the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas on Aug. 9 and 10. Although she did not compete in any pageants prior to last November, Campbell said the maturing process over the past several years gave her the maturity she needed to win the crown. “It was important to mature and develop a voice in what I was passionate about,” said Campbell, who graduated from Manchester Central High School in the spring.

As part of the competition process, pageant participants need to have a platform they are passionate about. For Campbell, her platform of Alzheimer’s Disease research was inspired by her grandparents. One of the highlights of Campbell’s time as Miss Teen New Hampshire has been her interaction with young people. “With the events I do, I love to see their faces when I walk into the room with the crown,” she said. “They look up to that and I like to be a positive influence in their lives.”

Campbell said her plans for the fall are still up in the air depending on how she does in the national competition next month. Eventually, she said she would like to go to law school in Boston. For the time being, when she is not preparing for Miss Teen USA, Campbell said she can be found out on the links working on her golf game. “My friends are so excited and are offering their support,” she said. “I couldn’t ask for better friends and family.” In addition to her older sister, Campbell has an older brother and twin 10-year-old sisters. 

At Manchester Central, she was a varsity cheerleader for four years and competed in the hurdles and high jump on the track team and was an active member of the school’s Key Club. During her time as Miss Teen New Hampshire, Campbell said she has been proud to represent the people of New Hampshire and is hoping the people of the state show their support for her. 

Vote for Miss Teen USA at missuniverse.com/missteenusa. The competitor with the most votes automatically makes it into the semifinal round of 15. The Miss Teen USA pageant is no longer on TV, but it will stream live at missuniverse.com/missteenusa on Aug. 9 and 10.