And the Winner Is... Miss Arkansas Teen USA!

Well, prelims and the final night were every bit as exciting as they promised to be! The girls looked gorgeous in their Sherri Hill Scala dresses and their opening number performance was HOT! Ivana (DC Teen USA), who is an actress/singer/dancer, worked those dance moves without so much as a blink of an eye and boy did she look GREAT! The pageant was hosted by Shelley Hennig, former Miss Teen USA 2004, and Seth Goldman. And we were treated to one of the Bahamas's own talented artists, Tada, who had the crowd on their feet!

At the end of the evening, Miss Arkansas Teen USA, Stevi Perry, was crowned Miss Teen USA 2008. Her court included Miss South Carolina Teen USA as first runner up, Miss North Carolina Teen USA as second-runner up, Miss Louisiana Teen USA as third runner up, and Miss Idaho Teen USA as fourth-runner up. I know the judges' decisions were difficult because there were so many gorgeous teens in the pageant and their bodies for swimsuit and gowns were amazing. Ivana looked SO GOOD in her swimsuit and her evening gown... I'm proud of you pumpkin!

I enjoyed the pageant with my girls and we met the new Miss Florida USA 2009 and Miss Texas USA 2009, who were sweeties as well. Chelsea Cooley, former Miss USA, was in the house and so was first runner-up to Miss Teen USA 2007, Alyssa C (Miss NJ Teen USA 2007).

All in all, Paradise Island was all that it was rumored to be and so was the Atlantis Resort. Five days with Washington, Florida, Mississippi, Alaska, and Minnesota just wasn't enough... and I miss you girls already!