Miss Teen USA Logan West combats bullying
In Late July, a moment Southington’s Logan West had worked hard for arrived – she was crowned Miss Teen USA.
During the pageant, she was asked what her greatest achievement to that point was, she said setting up an anti-bullying program. Miss Teen USA was, herself, bullied when she was in 7th grade. “I had a classmate who told me I did not act my skin color so she picked on me for the clothes I wore. She told me I was little miss wanna be white. That I needed to change the way I spoke, the friends I had, the way I dressed, all the things that I was into just because that’s not the way black girls behave,” says Logan.
At first she reacted like most victims. “I thought if I ignored her it would all go away. But I think it was really it was after a while of being slammed into lockers and pushed down stairs I was like, “I can’t do this anymore,” says Logan.
So she stood up… and then went a step further, developing an anti-bully message that she delivers to school kids across Connecticut with the help of the Governor’s Prevention Partnership.
President Jill Spineti says Logan is a powerful spokesperson. “For her to stand up and share that message with kids gives everybody hope that it can change for me, too,” says Jill. And when it’s Miss Teen USA saying, “I was bullied”…
“They’re very surprised and I think that’s a powerful message as well that bullying can happen to anybody,” says Jill.
And anybody can rise above it.
Miss Connecticut, Logan West, wins Miss Teen USA 2012 title
Logan West of Southington, Connecticut bested 50 other contestants for the title of Miss Teen USA 2012, which was held at the Atlantis Resort in Paradise Island, The Bahamas. Miss West Virginia, Elizabeth Sabatino, finished 1st Runner Up; Miss Michigan, Courtney Pizzimenti finished 2nd Runner Up; Miss Oklahoma, Jessica Morgan placed 3rd Runner Up and Miss Ohio, Kendall Fein finished 4th Runner Up.
Logan is a senior at Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts. Her career ambitions include attending Fordham University in New York and obtaining a degree in dance. She also wishes to travel with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. She also has a passion for law. In the future, she hopes to earn a law degree to serve as a children’s lawyer specializing in divorce cases.
Logan’s favorite hobbies include dancing, cooking and reading. She also collects anything turtle-related. She describes herself as articulate, honest and dedicated.
PAGEANT EXTRA 