Fort Bend Lifestyles and Homes Magazine Sep 2009: Feature - Taylor Felton of Richmond Wins National American Miss Texas Title

By Sandra Meineke

Taylor Felton of Richmond is the new National American Miss Texas Teen for 2009. In her first pageant ever, Taylor trumped more than 50 other teenage girls in her age group to win the state title. Taylor will represent south Texas at the National American Miss national pageant in Anaheim, Calif., in November.

Not your average beauty pageant, the National American Miss pageants are structured to celebrate America’s greatness and encourage its future leaders. Each year, the pageant awards $1 million in cash, scholarships and prizes to recognize and assist the development of young women nationwide.

NAM pageants are for today’s girls who will be tomorrow’s leaders. The pageant program is based on inner beauty, as well as poise and presentation. Contestants are scored on their personal introduction (30 percent), formal wear poise and appearance (30 percent), communications skills in an interview (30 percent), and 10 percent on participation in a community involvement project on the pageant weekend. Pageants are held in five age groups for girls ages 4-18 and are designed to be age-appropriate and family-oriented. Emphasis is placed on gaining self- confidence, learning new skills, forming good attitudes about competition and setting and achieving personal goals.

“I really like the pageant,” Taylor said. “It is more about self-confidence, personality and who you are, and not so much about beauty. ” Although this was her first pageant, Taylor says she enjoyed the experience so much that she will probably participate in other pageants in the future. In the meantime, she will be preparing for the national competition in November by deciding on her contest clothes and having professional photos taken. Pageants can get expensive, but the rewards ae great for winners. Girls must pay the sponsor fee or find sponsors to help pay for it, plus the cost of a professional photo shoot, formal dress, an interview suit, casual wear, a modeling outfit and other outfits for the week of the pageant in addition to travel expenses. The girls and their families will also be visiting Disneyland while in California.

The personal interview phase of the competition is conducted one-on-one with each judge. Girls rotate until they meet and talk with each of the judges. Questions are based on topics such as family, education, hobbies and community involvement. In addition, each contestant may be asked pageant-related questions such as what they hope to gain from participation in

the pageant and what they anticipate “doing” with their title should they win the national title.

Taylor graduated Summa Cum Laude from Fort Bend Baptist Academy in May. While in high school, she participated in varsity basketball, varsity track and junior varsity volleyball. She was also involved in Mu Alpha Theta National Math Club, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Interact Service Club, the Spanish Club, National Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society.

She enjoys working with mission outreach ministries such as My Brother’s Keeper Outreach Ministry, Second Mile Mission Ministries and the Interns to America Program. “I love working with my Brother’s Keeper. I get to work with the children at carnivals, help provide Easter baskets and wrap presents. ” She will attend Baylor University this fall majoring in Biology and Health Care and plans to be a pediatrician.