Whitehouse senior wins Miss Tyler

ABBI WRIGHT

There must really be something special about Whitehouse and Troup girls. That seems to be the opinion of the judges of the Miss Tyler USA and Miss Tyler Teen USA pageant.

Wearing a prom dress from her closet and a genuine smile, Whitehouse senior Abbi Wright won the Miss Tyler USA 2007 crown on Sunday night.

"I just thought it might be fun to try," Miss Wright said. "I really never thought I'd win. It just turned into more than I ever expected."

With an already busy schedule of school, work and church, Miss Wright said she had not even considered entering, but did so at the constant urging of her boss at Yahooz.

Miss Wright is taking a full course load on her campus as well as taking college classes at Tyler Junior College. Miss Wright plans to continue her education at TJC and move on to the University of Texas at Austin for studies in pharmacy science.

"The pageant was so different than what I thought it would be. They really want to get to know you and know what you think about the world around you," Miss Wright said. "It's not just about being pretty."

Amanda Margraves

Miss Wright is following in the footsteps of other Whitehouse girls who have won the crown of Miss Tyler USA, Miss Tyler Teen USA and Miss Texas USA. WHS 2001 graduate Audra Smith won the Miss Tyler USA title in 2001.

Magen Ellis, 2005 graduate, won the Miss Texas Teen USA crown in 2004 and the Miss Texas USA title in 2007. The reigning Miss Tyler USA, Mollianna Redding, a 2005 WHS grad, crowned Miss Wright.

Chelsey Matlock, also a WHS senior, joined Miss Wright on stage as the first runner up in the competition. Including contestants in the teen competition, seven girls from Whitehouse took part in Sunday night's event.

Troup's own Amanda Margraves was named first runner up to Taylor Clark, a 16- year-old junior at Grace Community High School who won the Miss Tyler Teen title. Miss Margraves, a junior, finished in the top five in the 2006 competition and went on to represent East Texas at the state level.

Among the top teen finishers was Arp student Jerrika Fuller who has her roots in Whitehouse through the Up A Creek Coffee Shop.

Chelsey Matlock

"It's a great experience and I've really enjoyed meeting new people," said Miss Fuller.

Miss Wright will continue on to the Miss Texas USA pageant in Laredo this summer.

"I'll start training in March," Miss Wright said. "I think I'll put a little more preparation into this one."