Saturday, February 15, 2025

Williamsburg Resident Competes for Miss America’s Teen Title as Miss Virginia’s Teen

Cassidy Lee, reigning Miss Virginia Teen, signs her name on the official Miss America map (Cassidy Lee)

WILLIAMSBURG — Between balancing her studies at the University of Alabama, rushing a sorority, and serving as Miss Virginia Teen, Cassidy Lee keeps a tight schedule.

Lee recently returned from Orlando where she competed for the Miss America’s Teen crown.

Miss America’s Teen contestants were up and at it by 7 a.m. each day, and often found themselves going to bed after 11 p.m. From interviews, pageant prep, appearances, and parties, the contestants were kept busy.

“From prelims to finals, this was such a dream come true. I really tried to soak in every single second of the experience and just make memories and create everlasting friendships,” Lee said.

Lee is extremely passionate about her community service initiative, Operation Smile. During her dance education at a local studio, Lee was exposed to Operation Smile and the work the organization does to help those with cleft issues. She had an opportunity to attend a medical mission trip in her teens that changed her life.

“I realized on that trip that there is really no representation for people who are impacted by cleft issues in our current society. When I returned from that experience, I really wanted to bridge that lack of education. I really wanted to inspire people to be more inclusive to those with facial differences,” Lee said.

Cassidy Lee performs her talent on the Miss America’s Teen stage (Cassidy Lee)

During the week-long pageant, Lee had the opportunity to show off her talent of baton twirling, get interviewed by the judges, participate in an on-stage question, and wear her evening gown and fitness attire.

However, preparations for the pageant started long before.

“Being Miss Virginia’s Teen and attending college in Alabama is not an ordinary experience, it’s rather extraordinary because it has given me so many opportunities to be able to meet new people in communities both in Alabama and Virginia. However, prep was the challenging part, because I was not always with the resources that I had through the Miss Virginia organization. It really taught me how to do it on my own,” Lee said.

At the competition, Lee placed outside the top 11 and did not get to participate in the pageant finals.

“I wouldn’t go back and change anything about this year at all, even attending the University of Alabama. It’s just been so special getting to be a college student and then also a state representative for the Miss America Organization. I like to call it my Hannah Montana world, where I feel like I’m truly getting the best of both worlds,” Lee said.

Now back focusing on her studies, Lee hasn’t ruled out eventually competing for the Miss Virginia adult crown.

Lee is proud of her time on the competition stage.

“We were at an event at the competition where we got to hear from 2024 Miss America Madison Marsh,” she said. “She told us that competing in this was all about winning the experience. It’s not all about the sparkly hat, it’s about winning the experience and taking home a life lesson from this. I can truly say that is what mattered most to me.”

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