On Saturday, 18-year-old Logan West made history when she became the first contestant from Connecticut to be crowned Miss Teen USA. As a biracial woman, her win was also monumental because it symbolized a recognition of beauty that didn’t come in the form of blonde hair and blue eyes, but the young Southington native admitted that her own personal road to beauty and self-acceptance was a long one.
In an interview with TODAY.com, she shared that from the age of 12 she had been bullied for “not acting her skin color.” In middle school and as a high-school freshman she was even punched, kicked, and stabbed with umbrellas by a group of bullies until it escalated into a fight where she was suspended from school. It was during that suspension that she came up with her own anti-bullying program which she began promoting around the state after winning the Connecticut Outstanding Teen Pageant in 2010.
“This is a huge issue to me,’’ she said. “Students have been very receptive to the message because it’s a difference between being talked at by a teacher than hearing it from me. I’m a teenager, and I’ve been through it. I was bullied starting at 12 years old and look what I am now.’’
Though some view pageants as a source of negativity and unhealthy pressure for young girls because it forces them to strive to meet certain beauty ideals, for Logan it was the exact opposite.
“I lost who Logan was when I was being bullied, but I found that participating in pageants helped me find ‘her’ again as well as gain the confidence to be a role model and voice for others,’’ she said. “During my reign, I hope to share with teens the importance of being true to yourself.’’
So far, nearly 20,000 students in Connecticut have heard Logan’s anti-bullying message over the course of two years and with a platform like Miss Teen USA, her campaign will no doubt spread to many more thousands. As compensation for winning the crown, she’ll receive a year-long salary as Miss Teen USA and represent the organization at numerous social events. As for her personal aspirations, after graduating from the Greater HartfordAcademy of the Arts this year, Logan plans on living in New York City and attending the New York Film Academy on the scholarship provided by her Miss Teen USA victory. She’ll also continue promoting her anti-bullying program, of course, and work with other organizations like Best Buddies, Project Sunshine, Girl Talk, and Same Sky Trade Initiative.
“I think my work is making a difference, and now I want to target this message to every state because it’s not like there’s only bullying in Connecticut,’’ she told TODAY, “I’m just so excited to take full advantage of all the opportunities I have for being Miss Teen USA.”
Sounds like the panel made an excellent choice for the winner. Congrats to Logan for overcoming her obstacles!
via MadameNoire
