News
Miss Teen Arkansas wins Miss Teen USA 2008 at Atlantis
By Katie Longley, Kerzner International
Aug 19, 2008 - 7:11:57 PM

Stevi Perry crowned by Hilary Cruz (Miss Teen USA 2007) and Miss USA. Photo: Tim Aylen.

The Bahamas - Miss Arkansas, 18 year old Stevi Lauren Perry, of Hamburg is the new Miss Teen USA. She was crowned Saturday, August 16th  at Atlantis, Paradise Island Resort, after beating out 50 other contestants.

Throughout the event, the contestants competed in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview, and the top five finalists were selected. Hilary Cruz, Miss Teen USA 2007, and Crystle Stewart, Miss USA 2008, crowned the new Queen.

Miss Teen USA Winners with reigning queen center. Photo: Tim Aylen

Brittany Pjetraj, Miss South Carolina Teen USA, was first runner up; she will assume the duties of Miss Teen USA 2008 if for some reason Perry cannot fulfill her responsibilities.

Second runner up is Julia Dalton, Miss North Carolina Teen USA; third was Lindsey Evans, Miss Louisiana Teen USA; and rounding out the top five; Shareece Laree Pfeiffer, Miss Idaho Teen USA.

The judges for this year's competition included: Alina Shriver, Founder of Shriver Art; Farouk Shami, Founder and Chairman Farouk Systems; Heather Kerzner of Kerzner International; Alicia Bridgewater, Bookings Editor at Cosmo Girl Magazine; Duane Gazi, Director of Scouting and Development at Trump Model Management; Eric Parrinello, founder and owner of Bacchanalia Private Dining in Overland Park, Kansas; David Dzanis, Vice President of Coca Cola Client Services at Genesco Sports Enterprises; and Seth Mayeri, Television Talent Veteran.

This is the first time the pageant was hosted outside of the USA. As part of the final night entertainment, Bahamian R & B singer, songwriter and recording artist, Terneille (TaDa) Burrows performed.

View photos from SeattlePI.com HERE

Atlantis, Paradise Island is the flagship resort of Kerzner International. This unique, ocean-themed destination features a variety of accommodations, all built around a 97-acre waterscape. Atlantis unveiled AQUAVENTURE, a non-stop water experience. The Cove Atlantis, a 600-room resort, features oversized rooms with a step down living space, spectacular designs by acclaimed interior architects Jeffrey Beers and David Rockwell, unprecedented services and amenities, private all-adult and family pools, lavish cabanas and breathtaking views of the ocean. Atlantis is also known as THE culinary destination in The Caribbean with a collection of restaurants from world-renowned chefs including Nobu Matsuhisa, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Bobby Flay and Angelo Elia. The resort boasts an impressive collection of luxury boutiques and shops and the largest conference center, meeting and convention facilities in The Caribbean.

About Miss Teen USA: The Miss Universe Organization, producers of the MISS UNIVERSE(R), MISS USA(R) and MISS TEEN USA(R) Pageants, is a Donald J. Trump and NBC Universal joint venture. Miss Teen USA spends her year building relationships with organizations devoted to education and action, such as Best Buddies, Girl Talk, Sparrow Clubs and Project Sunshine.

All photos: Tim Aylen Photography

Miss Teen USA 2008, Stevi Lauren Perry stands against a backdrop of Atlantis Resort. Photo: Tim Aylen

Miss Teen USA Contestants together at Atlantis Resort. Photo: Tim Aylen

Miss USA with Bahamian Queens. Photo: Tim Aylen

Micah Michael, Miss West Virginia Teen USA 2008; Elliot Griffin, Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA 2008; and Lauren Alexa Hudman, Miss Nevada Teen USA 2008, enjoy AquaVenture at ATLANTIS, Paradise Island, Bahamas. Photo: Tim Aylen.

George Markantonis, President/Managing Director, Kerzner International Bahamas, Miss Teen USA 2008 and Mrs. Heather Kersner, who was also one of the official judges. Photo: Tim Aylen

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