Fans can watch the pageant live online at www.missteenusa.com.
View full sizeKay Elizabeth TetreaultSOUTH HADLEY – Kay Elizabeth Tetreault will travel to the Bahamas next week to represent Massachusetts in the Miss Teen USA pageant.
The pageant, which will be held July 16 at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort, follows Tetreault’s November win of the Miss Massachusetts Teen USA title.
The Miss Teen USA contest, associated with Miss Universe and Donald Trump, will not be shown on television this year. Fans can watch the pageant live online at www.missteenusa.com on July 16 at 8 p.m.
Miss Teen USA includes evening gown, swimsuit, on-stage question and (backstage) interview portions. There is no talent segment.
“It’s more of a showy type of (pageant),” Tetreault said as she prepared for the pageant. “I’m really excited and I feel confident that I know myself from going after the title (for Miss Massachusetts Teen USA) three times and finally winning it.”
Tetreault says she’s not nervous because the pageant is in the judges’ hands.
“I’m hoping to just go in and show I’m a passionate, independent, enthusiastic and dedicated person,” she said.
Tetreault has been busy since taking home the Massachusetts title last fall, with appearances at events and venues across the state.
“I usually have at least one event or appearance every weekend in the Boston area, central or western part of the state,” Tetreault said. “I have created my own anti-bullying presentation that I’ve been taking around the state to increase awareness to other teens.”
Tetreault, 18, recently graduated from South Hadley High School, which had been embroiled in controversy following the suicide last year of bullying victim, Phoebe Prince.
“I hope with the national title, if I were able to capture that, that I would be able to go national with my presentation,” she said. “I’ve put together different research reports with some of my own experiences.”
Tetreault is also involved in the Best Buddies program for young people with disabilities, as well as cancer fund-raising events across the state. She was feted on June 23 at a send-off party where area businesses, like Edible Memories and Taylor Rental, of South Hadley, donated services for the event.
Tetreault maintains a blog in which she writes about bullying and includes information about her appearances. She said she has received positive feedback from her stance against bullying.
“I’ve gotten numerous Facebook messages; it’s been touching,” she said. “If I can at least touch one person in that (bullying) situation, it’s good enough for me.”
Tetreault said pageants have given her wonderful opportunities.
“I thought about what I could do with the title and how I could inspire other teens,” she said. “It’s about being involved in your community and I really like that. It gives me that opportunity to reach out to teens and to help them.”
Tetreault has been accepted to Simmons College in Boston, where she plans to study nutrition. She is also interested in the film industry. If she were to win the title of Miss Teen USA, she says she would have the opportunity to study at the New York Film Academy for her freshman year. But she said she would take a year off if she wins the pageant.
Tetreault, who is the daughter of Luke and Laurie Tetreault, is confident about her prospects, but is also proud of all she has accomplished already as Miss Massachusetts Teen USA.
“I’ve done so much this year in regards to charity work,” she said. “Hopefully, I’m showing I can be a positive role model to teens across Massachusetts, and if I had the opportunity, nationwide.”