Alianna West, Miss West Hawaii Teen America 2018, was crowned Miss Hawaii Teen America 2018 on March 3 at the Neal Blaisdell Center’s Pikake Room on Oahu. The 14-year-old was the first teen from a neighbor island to win the title.
Alianna was crowned by last year’s winner Ciana Pelekai, who went on to win Miss Teen America 2017.
“I was shocked and couldn’t believe that I was chosen to represent Hawaii at nationals,” Alianna said moments after being crowned. “It was like a dream becoming a reality.”
First runner-up went to another Big Island contestant, Miss Hilo Teen America 2018 Tehani Barrett, a 17-year-old junior at Ke Kula O Nawahiokalaniopuu, a Hawaiian immersion school in Keaau. Miss Oahu Teen America 2018 Emily Smith was second runner-up.
Alianna is an honor roll and dean’s list freshman at Hawaii Preparatory Academy and is a defensive starter for HPA’s girls varsity soccer team. Her scholastic ambition is to get accepted into a good college and play soccer on an athletic scholarship. She also hopes to one day become a TV broadcaster or E News reporter. Alianna is the daughter of Liana West and Eddie Rodrigues.
Besides the crown and sash, Alianna also walked away with a prize package that included a $10,000 scholarship from Argosy University, a $10,000 scholarship from Med Assist School of Hawaii, a Hawaiian bracelet from Carats &Karats, teeth-whitening service, hairstyling services for the year of her reign, a trip to New Zealand this summer, and other gifts.
In addition, Alianna earned her spot as a contestant in the Miss Teen America 2018 pageant on July 21 in San Antonio, where she will compete against other state titleholders from across the nation.
During her reign Alianna will travel around Hawaii speaking in schools promoting her personal platform, “Mentoring Minis.”
The Miss Hawaii Teen America pageant is for girls ages 13-18 years and is an official state preliminary to the Miss Teen America pageant. The Miss Teen program promotes strong scholastic ideals, solid leadership principles and high character growth to young women. Miss Teen America is recognized as one of the longest running, most prestigious female teen scholarship pageant competitions awarding scholarships annually. Contestants compete in a private judge’s interview, fun-fashion wear, fitness wear and evening gown phases.
For more information, visit www.MissHawaiiTeenAmerica.com.