MISS TEEN USA 2012 CONTESTANT - Briana Joy Yamat (Wisconsin)

Name
Briana Joy Yamat
Age
16
Hometown
Oak Creek, Wisconsin
Previous experience
None

Biography

Briana is a freshman at Oak Creek High School. She is an honor roll student who is an active member of the Best Buddies program and the Multi-Cultural club. She also plans to run Track and Field for the third consecutive year. In her spare time she enjoys rock climbing, swimming, volunteering, roller coasters, traveling, spending time with friends, and most of all being with her family.

Frederick and Kerry Yamat are the proud parents of Briana. She is also a sister to Christian, Camille, and Miles. Family is extremely important to her. She claims she wouldn't be the person she is today without them. She credits her dad who she says always provides the wise words of wisdom; her mom, the coach through thick and thin, Christian, her older brother with the best pep talks, and her younger siblings Camille and Miles, her most proud and loudest fans. Briana says that this event has been an emotional one and has really strengthened the family bond even more.

Briana is a goal setter and has her heart set on competing. 'I'll keep trying until I succeed.' She believes in making her mark in this world and inspiring others along the way. As a young teen, Briana knows what it is like to struggle with the pressure to be 'perfect'. She has realized and come to the conclusion that more people will like you for the real you. Briana says about herself 'I am not perfect. I would rather be disliked for who I am, rather than to be liked for someone I am not.' She is comfortable with who she is and wants others' to know it is okay to be who you are. Being different makes you, you.

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Special thanks and credits to http://www.pageantupdate.info

MISS TEEN USA 2012 CONTESTANT - Keilara McCormick (Utah)

Name
Keilara McCormick
Age
17
Hometown
Lehi, Utah
Previous experience
None

Biography







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Special thanks and credits to http://www.pageantupdate.info

MISS TEEN USA 2012 CONTESTANT - Alexandria (Alex) Carlson-Helo (Washington)

Name
Alexandria (Alex) Carlson-Helo
Age
17
Hometown
Everett, Washington
Previous experience
None

Biography

Alex grew up in Mill Creek, WA enjoying the small town life and beautiful nature right outside of her front door. She has been privileged to travel this country through dance opportunities, and has always looked forward to returning to Washington where it's green and the air is fresh. She enjoys her family cabin and fishing with her Dad, up for any outdoor adventure. Learning to snowboard at an early age, Alex is fearless on the slopes and no hill is too big to conquer.

This passion has also shown in her dance. Ballet classes started at the tender age of eighteen months. Alex performed her first dance recital while still in diapers! As a trained dancer in ballet, jazz, tap, break dancing and hip hop, she grew up performing on stage. She has enjoyed dancing with many local groups including Turning Pointe, Breaking Point, Phyzikal Graffi-t, and the Seattle Storm Dance Troupe. Over the years, Alex has received numerous scholarships at many prestigious dance competitions and has traveled to New York, Florida, Vegas and Arizona to name a few. She has been on ESPN and done a music video. At 13, Alex became a professional dancer. She will enthusiastically agree that dancing with the Seattle Storm for three years has been the highlight of her dance career. The thrill of performing in front of 11,000 fans is pure adrenaline. Alex now returns every year to be a guest choreographer for the Storm team and volunteers her time.

A senior at Jackson High School, Alex is a third year returning varsity cheerleader. She is a baser for the cheer squad and is passionate with her school spirit. She is a member of Jackson's prestigious Drum Line and Percussion Ensemble. As the ASB Executive Board Treasurer, Alex is devoted to making every student's experience at Jackson memorable. She was recently nominated for Homecoming Queen and the Senior Awards: Most Likely to Help Someone, Most Spirited, Most Instrumental and Most Athletic.

Alex's greatest passion is mentoring other teens and advocating building self confidence. Using her strengths from a middle school incident, she developed a website and blog to reach out to help other teens with harassment issues. Nofearjustfriends provides advice and shares personal experiences for other teens. Alex's lengthy volunteerism has focused on Special Needs organizations and the promotion of ending the use of the "R" word. She volunteers as a counselor during her summers at Camp Patterson, a Special Needs camp. She is currently working with the local Special Olympics and forming a Special Needs Cheer Squad. Her friendships with Special Needs kids at school are extremely rewarding and cherished. She plans to major in Special Needs Education and return to Jackson High School to devote her career to teaching and helping Special Needs teens thrive in high school. When Alex has free time, she enjoys shopping and watching movies at theaters. Her favorite TV shows are "Glee" and "Law & Order" marathons. She is an avid sports fan and loves to go to Mariner's games. As busy as Alex is, she always takes time to play with her dogs and spend time with her best friend and sister, Britney. Her "never give up" attitude shines through and her determination to use every opportunity to further her passions is apparent in everything she does.

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Débora Lyra is now out of danger after undergoing major surgery

Débora Lyra is now out of danger. After undergoing major surgery on the spine and having her spleen removed, the former Miss Universe Brazil shows a severe, but stable condition. She is lucid, and now breathes without the help of apparatus. She has also started to be orally fed.

After very successful surgeries, doctors said there’s no risk for her to become quadriplegic. Lyra is in the company of her parents, and still does not know details about the accident. Her boyfriend also remains under intensive care at the same hospital. His mother passed away in the accident.

The car crush took place last Tuesday, in the state of Espírito Santo, when Lyra’s boyfriend lost control of the steering wheel on a curve and crashed head-on with another car.

Debora has been receiving messages and prayers from all over the world.


Special thanks and credits to the source: GlobalBeauties

MISS TEEN USA 2012 CONTESTANT - Elizabeth Sabatino (West Virginia)

Name
Elizabeth Sabatino

Age
16

Hometownh
Morgantown, West Virginia

Previous experience
New

Biography

Elizabeth Sabatino is the 5'8" green-eyed daughter of Holly Sabatino and Terry Nicholson. Elizabeth resides in Morgantown, West Virginia. She is a 16 year-old 4.0 student at Morgantown High School. She hopes to obtain a Masters degree in business and assume a leadership role with a large company. She believes her strongest talent is her ability to make people smile and feel comfortable. Elizabeth's favorite hobbies include Track and Cross Country, Italian Club, reading, exercising and volunteering. She describes herself as caring, honest and outgoing.

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Special thanks and credits to http://www.pageantupdate.info

MISS TEEN USA 2012 CONTESTANT - Veronica Temple (Alaska)

Name
Veronica Temple
Age
18
Hometown
Eagle River, Alaska
Previous experience
Miss Alaska's Outstanding Teen 2009

Biography






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Special thanks and credits to http://www.pageantupdate.info

MISS TEEN USA 2012 CONTESTANT - Alexa Zellers (Arizona)

Name
Alexa Zellers
Age
17
Hometown
Scottsdale, Arizona
Previous experience
None

Biography

Alexa is the younger sister of Emerald Zellers, Miss Arizona Teen USA 2006.







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Special thanks and credits to http://www.pageantupdate.info

MISS TEEN USA 2012 CONTESTANT - Jacqueline Zuccherino (Colorado)

Name
Jacqueline Zuccherino
Age
17
Hometown
Aurora, Colorado
Previous experience
None

Biography

Jacqueline moved to the USA from Italy as a child, living with her grandmother and older brothers. When her parents moved to the USA they relocated to Colorado. While attending public high school, Jacqueline consistently worked part-time in retail sales, she was a party coordinator for childrenÕs events, and sharpened her people-skills as hostess at various local eateries. Home-schooling suited Jacqueline and her familyÕs life-style and she enjoyed the opportunity to travel with her mother to volunteer in Costa Rica and Mexico.

Jacqueline loves animals, particularly her tea-cup Chihuahua named Princess. She also an avid football fan and never misses putting on her favorite Tebow jersey to watch a Sunday night game with her family. Daily workouts keep her fit and on her toes to compete with two of her brothers, who currently serve in the United States Marine Corps.

Jacqueline entered college in the fall of 2011 and is pursuing a career in forensic pathology. She wants to obtain a degree in the biological sciences, then a medical degree, and complete a forensic pathology residency program. She hopes to one day serve as a coroner and assist in crime scene investigations.

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Special thanks and credits to http://www.pageantupdate.info

MISS TEEN USA 2012 CONTESTANT - Logan West (Connecticut)

Name
Logan West
Age
18
Hometown
Southington, Connecticut
Previous experience
Miss Connecticut's Outstanding Teen 2010

Biography

Logan West is the 5Õ7 brown-eyed daughter of Patricia and Michael West. Together they reside in Southington, Connecticut. Logan studies as a senior at Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts. Her career ambition includes attending Fordham University and obtaining a degree in dance. She also wishes to travel with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Her future includes a degree in law and ultimately becoming a children's lawyer specializing in divorce. Logan's favorite hobbies include dancing, cooking, reading and collecting turtles. She describes herself as articulate, honest and dedicated.


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