» Getting To Know Miss Teen USA

Roxanne Washington/Plain Dealer Reporter

Here she comes -- Miss Teen USA -- Allie Leigh LaForce of Vermilion. Allie, a 16-year-old junior at Vermilion High School, was crowned Miss Teen USA on Monday in Baton Rouge, La. She's returning home to Ohio soon, but on Tuesday morning, Allie was being chauffeured around Baton Rouge soaking up the limelight of her win, squeezing in last-minute phone interviews and sounding surprisingly poised and relaxed about her title.

"I wanted to win the pageant, of course, but if I didn't, I was prepared for that, too," Allie said during a quick cell-phone interview. "I have a lot of friends at school, and I have a lot of school things to fall back on." After capturing the crown, Allie faces a busy year balancing school with her duties as Miss Teen USA.

She'll fly back and forth between Vermilion and New York for pageant appearances on behalf of the Miss Universe organization, which also produces Miss USA. While in New York, she'll share an apartment with Miss USA and Miss Universe. Along with the title, Allie gets a one-year contract with Trump Modeling Management, an appearance on the NBC soap opera "Passions," and lots of other goodies.

Allie LaForce, Miss Teen USA 2005 poses with "Gucci"

the alligator at the Alligator Bayou in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on August 9.

LaForce was crowned Miss Teen USA 2005 in the live telecast

of the Miss Teen USA Competition the previous evening.

Winning high-profile pageants is in Allie's blood. Her mother, Lesa, was Miss Ohio USA in 1977, although back then her mom's last name was Rummell. Allie had 25 friends and relatives in Baton Rouge to watch her capture the crown.

Allie caught the pageant bug six years ago, when she and her mom, who owns a modeling agency in Atlanta, went to watch one of her mother's models compete in New York. "It was a lot cooler than I thought it would be," Allie said. "There's a lot more to it than people see on camera."

"At 10 years old, Allie had stars in her eyes," said Lesa LaForce. "She said, Mom, I really want to do this.' " accordingly, when Allie turned 15, she attended an Ohio Miss Teen USA camp. Her first pageant was the Ohio's Miss Teen competition in November 2004, where she won the crown. When this reign ends, Allie isn't sure if she'll continue competing in pageants to pursue the life of glamorous gowns, endless smiling and always being on one's best behavior.

» Miss Teen USA Picture Recap

Thought our fan’s would enjoy some more pictures from Monday Nights Coronation Ball at Miss Teen USA!

The Ratliff girls before the big night

The Duren's were there to support our Miss Florida Teen USA! (left)

Miss Georgia Teen USA with Michael from The Sparrow Club (right)

Florida and Alaska directors were in the house!

Don Baker and Miss Indiana Teen USA 2004 were there to cheer on our Miss Ratliff (left)

A Miss Oregon Teen USA sister act! (center)

Miss Ohio USA has a photo op before the show (right)

Alaska and Florida groups before the big evening

» Miss Florida USA Welcome Home Party

You are invited to a welcome home party for
CRISTIN DUREN
MISS FLORIDA USA 2006

Sunday, August 14th
2 to 4pm CST
Edgewater Beach Resort
Panama City Beach

Come enjoy an afternoon of fun in the sun
and receive a free autograph from
the new Leading Lady of Florida.

RSVP to sam@leadingladymagazine.com

» Pageant News Wanted!

Are you a titleholder or at large delegate who is making appearances or doing good things in the community? We would love to tell all of the Miss Florida USA Family your story. Send pictures and updates to telair@aol.com as we feature everything Miss Florida USA on Friday’s at Faces & Places.

»Alumni News Wanted!

If you know of any Miss Florida USA alumni in the news please drop us an email to feature them in future articles. Email all info to info@missfloridausa.com! Until next week here to good pageantry!

PICTURE OF THE WEEK!

The 2005 Miss Teen USA Season is officially

over as Miss Ohio captured the most coveted

teen title in the world! Oh what a moment….

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