Local teen becomes West Virginia royalty

Posted on 19 November 2008

RIPLEY — After three days of events, Alysia Thompson, 16, was crowned Miss West Virginia Teen USA on October 26 in Flatwoods, W.Va.

This is the second time the Ripley High School junior has participated in the pageant. Last year Thompson placed in the top 12.

There were 32 other teens from all over West Virginia vying for the title, but after a swimsuit competition, evening gown competition and an on-stage interview with the top five, Thompson was crowned by reigning Miss West Virginia Teen 2008 Micah Michael.

Thompson will go on to compete for the title Miss Teen USA.

Thompson joins a select group of young women from Jackson County to participate in the national Miss USA or Miss Teen USA Pageant.

In 2008 Kristin Morrison was crowned Miss WV USA and went on to be in the top 15 at the Miss USA 2005 Pageant.

In 2006, Morrison crowned another Jackson County resident, Jessica Wedge, Miss WV USA.
Should Thompson win the title, she would move to New York to live in an apartment with Miss USA and Miss Universe and do charity work along with receiving a modeling contract with Trump Model Management.

“It’s kind of scary,” Thompson said of the thought of moving away, but it would “definitely be worth it.”

Among the items Thompson will receive during her year of reign, she will get a 20 percent tuition scholarship to the New York Film Academy.

“I got a scholarship to the New York film academy,” Thompson said.

Thompson will work along with Miss Teen USA with charitable organizations including Girl Talk, Best Buddies, Outside the Classroom, Do Something, Seeds of Peace and Sparrow Club.

Thompson said she doesn’t know what the future holds for her when it comes to pageants. She said she might wait and do some queens pageants.

Thompson said she has been competing in pageants since 2004 with her first pageant being the Jackson County Jr. Fair Pre-teen.

The following year she won the same pageant in the teen category.

Thompson said she’s won about eight pageants and received runner-up in several others.

She said to get ready for the pageant she prepares herself as a whole.

Thompson said she has to prepare her mindset and keep up with current events.

Miss W.Va. Teen said her favorite part of the pageant was meeting different people.

“My favorite part is to get to know everybody all across the state,” she said.

Outside of the pageant world, Thompson said she wants to go into the health field and maybe do some modeling on the side.

With the chance to attend The New York Film Academy however, she said things could change.

She said a lot of people become actresses and she’s interested in exploring her options.

If anyone is interested in participating in the 2010 Miss West Virginia Teen USA pageant, they can contact the Pageant Office at 1-800-824-9107 or check out the Web site at www.pageantassociates.com.

story by Laura Tennant (ltennant@jccitizen.com)

http://www.jccitizen.com/local-teen-becomes-west-virginia-royalty/