Aberdeen native heading to Miss Teen USA pageant
Pageant participant says title isn't about beauty
Aberdeen native Makenzie Falcon will be packing her bags soon to fly to Las Vegas for the Miss Teen USA Competition.
“It’s just starting to hit me,” said 19-year-old Falcon. “I’ve been keeping busy so far, but now, it’s time to start getting ready to compete for Miss Teen USA. I’ve been getting a lot of help.”
Falcon, who is studying political science, criminal justice and pre-law at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has already been making her way through her list of preparations.
“I don’t have much financial obligations,” Falcon said. “We have sponsors that cover our gown and clothing costs. I have an interview coach that’s helping me prepare. I’m also staying in shape and keeping up with current events.”
Of all her preparations, getting ready for the interview portion of the competition is most important.
“The big thing that I need to do to prepare is keeping up with current events,” Falcon said. “I have four different news apps on my phone, all the way from news to entertainment. We also have to prepare a personal platform for our interviews. Mine are focusing on immigration, because my grandfather was a Mexican immigrant, and being involved in politics.”
The Miss Teen USA Pageant is July 30.
Falcon said that before her journey began, she never saw herself in a pageant.
“I got a letter in the mail saying I’d been nominated to compete,” Falcon said. “My mom and I laughed at first. I’m really not the stereotype of a pageant queen. I thought about it some more though and figured they give good scholarships, so I went for it.”
This was Falcon’s second year in the pageant, and she said she is the first girl from Aberdeen to win the Miss Teen South Dakota crown.
“When I first won, I didn’t remember anything,” she said. “I don’t remember what I was saying to the other girl that was standing there with me. My jaw dropped. I didn’t think I’d win.”
Falcon competed against more than 40 other teens. The girls were judged in three categories — interview, evening gown and swimwear. The swimwear category was recently replaced with activewear.
“The reason behind it is because they don’t want teens to think you need to look good in a bikini to be Miss Teen USA,” Falcon said. “They want to focus on fitness and being healthy.”
Due to her age, this is Falcon’s last year competing in the pageant. However, she said she’s considering competing for the Miss South Dakota crown.
“I enjoyed my experience as Miss Teen South Dakota, but it’s a time commitment,” she said.
As for the next Miss Teen South Dakota, Falcon has some advice.
“My No. 1 pointer is go into it confident in yourself,” she said. “The difference between my first and second time competing was that my first year, I was a nervous wreck, but my second year, I focused more on why I wanted the title. The title isn’t about beauty. It’s about a platform to express what you want to change.”
http://www.aberdeennews.com/life/aberdeen-native-heading-to-miss-teen-usa-pageant/article_91ed4288-7fef-5bbc-b91d-299837b0008f.html
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