Huntington High School sophomore Taylor Williams has been selected to represent Angelina County in the Miss Texas Teen USA pageant next month in Houston.
Williams, 15, was nominated for the pageant and selected by a committee to represent this area of the state.
"I had no idea it was going to happen and I'm really excited about it," Williams said. "I've never done a pageant before so I have mixed emotions."
Since being selected Williams has been busy picking out dresses, evening gowns and swimsuits among other items to wear at the contest.
"That's been the fun part because I really like to shop," Williams said.
Williams is a member of the Student Council, runs cross country and track and plays softball at Huntington. She is also involved in her youth group at church and at home helps take care of 17 dogs, which includes Argentine Dogos and Black Mouth Cur.
On a questionnaire for the pageant, Williams was asked what she would do if she had three wishes. Her answers were to find alternate energy sources, for people to be kinder to animals and to keep children safer.
Williams said she would specifically like to put a stop to animal cruelty.
"I've loved animals since I was a little girl," she said. "I've been around them all my life."
Williams said some of the preparation for the pageant includes staying up on current events, so she's been watching a lot of news programs.
She says she has a lot of different thoughts as she prepares for the pageant, but that she's most excited about the potential to win scholarship money.
"The thing I'm most worried about though is that what if I don't remember something important for the answers when the judges interview me," Williams said.
Williams has three major sponsors that are helping her — Southern Tile, J.E. Kingham Construction and David Palmer, DDS.
Williams' parents are Mike and Criss Neal, dad is Joseph Williams, siblings are Jonathon Neal, Mikaela Neal, Callie Neal, Jason Williams and Lane Williams.
"I hope that by competing that I can influence others to pursue their dreams to try things," Williams said. "It's going to be a life-changing experience."
The pageant will be held Sunday, Nov. 29 at the Hilton Houston Post Oak Hotel. The Preliminary Show and Competition will be held Saturday, Nov. 28, at 7:30 p.m. The Swimsuit and Photogenic award winners will be announced during the Preliminary Show.
