By Stephen H. Cowles/Contributing Writer

FRANKLIN—Taylor Vick continues to shine in the pageant world. This past weekend,

the 20-year-old won the title of 2012 Miss Teen Virginia United States.

“It was such an amazing honor to hear them announcing my name to be a part of such a wonderful pageant family,” said Vick. “I had absolutely no idea that they would be crowning me as the new queen. All of my hard work, perseverance, and dedication had finally paid off.”

The event took place alongside the Miss Virginia and Miss Jr. Teen Virginia competitions at the Scottish Rite Auditorium in Richmond.

Vick can now go on to the Miss Teen United States Pageant, which will be held July 3-8 in Washington, D.C.

While she obviously did her part, Vick’s also quick to give credit where it’s due for her pageant and personal successes.

“My being here would simply not be possible without a select group of people,” she said. “They are my mother, Lori Cary; father, Steven Vick; stepmother, Mary Vick; stepfather, Miller Cary; boyfriend, Joey Everett; and dear friend Cristy Williams. Without these people standing behind me at every moment and supporting me in everything I do, this opportunity would simply not be possible.”

The Tidewater News last reported on Vick in October, soon after she won the titles of Miss Virginia Collegiate and Miss Congeniality in Cape Charles.

At the time, Vick was a pre-nursing student at Paul D. Camp Community College. But, as she put it, “things have changed a bit.”

This summer, at least, she will begin studying cosmetology at Rudy and Kelly Hair Academy in Virginia Beach.

In the meanwhile, Vick will continue to promote her cause of awareness about Alzheimer’s disease.

“After losing two members of my family, my goal is to help reach out to those who are not educated on the subject and raise money to not only cure this disease but prevent it,” she said.

Vick concluded, “I am looking forward to my wonderful year as your Miss Teen Virginia with my sister queens, Tabatha Cain and Chris Wilmer, and my wonderful and hard-working directors. The weeks leading up to nationals are going to be crazy but well worth it. I know us Virginia girls can knock ‘em dead yet again this year.”