Natalie Phillips Interview
Miss Tennessee Teen USA 2008
Why did you decide to compete in the Miss Tennessee Teen USA?
I was on the dance team since 7th grade. When I tried out before my Junior year, I didn't make it. I was shocked and had no clue what to be involved in. One day I was sitting at the tanning bed and a random women walked up to me and said, "You look like you should be a pageant girl! You have a Miss TN smile!". Of course I had never been in a pageant so I went home told my mom and I signed up, starting working out, and before I knew it they called my name as the winner!
What was going through your head when you were announced as the new Miss Tennessee Teen USA?
If you see the pictures of me winning you can tell that I was completely shocked. Most of the girls standing behind me had done this pageant before! I could hardly breathe! It was one of the best moments in my life!
What would be your most memorable moment at Miss Teen USA?
Well, to tell you the truth Miss Teen USA was a really hard week for me. I didn't know if I was going to be able to compete. One week before leaving for the Bahamas I was diagnosed with a corneal ulcer. I was in and out of the ER and several doctor's offices for the next week. The doctor told me I would be lucky if I could even go. By the grace of God with a few days left before I was to leave for the Bahamas, my specialist said I could go and I competed the whole week with one contact in! But that's not all, two days before leaving to go to the Bahamas, my best friend and now college roommate's father was killed when he was hit by a car while he was riding his bike. He was coming to watch the pageant, and was so excited about it. I was going to ask if I could come one day late, but I was reassured that he would have wanted me to compete. So in the midst of everything, my most memorable moment was walking out on stage at Miss Teen USA and seeing his whole family there to watch me. They had made posters and everything. It was incredible.
How would a typical day go during your reign as Miss Tennessee Teen USA?
My typical day would be waking up and cooking egg whites and an english muffin with sugar free jelly. Driving to Nashville to work out with my trainer, Josh Rogers! Going for a run when I got home and then either going to an event, preparing for Miss Teen USA, or going to hang out with my friends!
What would be your most memorable moment as Miss TN Teen USA?
My most memorable moment would be going to Miss USA in Vegas! All of the teens got to sit in the very front! Miss GA Teen USA, Miss Texas Teen USA, and I all sat in the 2nd row and got to meet the celebrity judges, Donald Trump, and get to see what goes on behind the scenes! I had a blast the whole time!
What emotions were you going through when you had to give away your title as Miss TN Teen USA?
I was sad but I was ready. I was going to start my senior year and that was exciting! I was sad mainly just because I became so close to my director, trainer, Hailey-Miss TN USA, Shannon-Miss GA Teen USA, and everyone that helped me through the year! I would go hang out with them nearly every day! I would say the best way to explain it was bittersweet.
Lastly, what have you been up to since your reign as Miss TN Teen USA ended?
Since my reign, I have done some modeling, attended a few events, and judged several pageants. But mainly, I have just been a normal teenage girl! I enjoyed my senior year. I just graduated and will be attending UTC in the fall!
I was on the dance team since 7th grade. When I tried out before my Junior year, I didn't make it. I was shocked and had no clue what to be involved in. One day I was sitting at the tanning bed and a random women walked up to me and said, "You look like you should be a pageant girl! You have a Miss TN smile!". Of course I had never been in a pageant so I went home told my mom and I signed up, starting working out, and before I knew it they called my name as the winner!
What was going through your head when you were announced as the new Miss Tennessee Teen USA?
If you see the pictures of me winning you can tell that I was completely shocked. Most of the girls standing behind me had done this pageant before! I could hardly breathe! It was one of the best moments in my life!
What would be your most memorable moment at Miss Teen USA?
Well, to tell you the truth Miss Teen USA was a really hard week for me. I didn't know if I was going to be able to compete. One week before leaving for the Bahamas I was diagnosed with a corneal ulcer. I was in and out of the ER and several doctor's offices for the next week. The doctor told me I would be lucky if I could even go. By the grace of God with a few days left before I was to leave for the Bahamas, my specialist said I could go and I competed the whole week with one contact in! But that's not all, two days before leaving to go to the Bahamas, my best friend and now college roommate's father was killed when he was hit by a car while he was riding his bike. He was coming to watch the pageant, and was so excited about it. I was going to ask if I could come one day late, but I was reassured that he would have wanted me to compete. So in the midst of everything, my most memorable moment was walking out on stage at Miss Teen USA and seeing his whole family there to watch me. They had made posters and everything. It was incredible.
How would a typical day go during your reign as Miss Tennessee Teen USA?
My typical day would be waking up and cooking egg whites and an english muffin with sugar free jelly. Driving to Nashville to work out with my trainer, Josh Rogers! Going for a run when I got home and then either going to an event, preparing for Miss Teen USA, or going to hang out with my friends!
What would be your most memorable moment as Miss TN Teen USA?
My most memorable moment would be going to Miss USA in Vegas! All of the teens got to sit in the very front! Miss GA Teen USA, Miss Texas Teen USA, and I all sat in the 2nd row and got to meet the celebrity judges, Donald Trump, and get to see what goes on behind the scenes! I had a blast the whole time!
What emotions were you going through when you had to give away your title as Miss TN Teen USA?
I was sad but I was ready. I was going to start my senior year and that was exciting! I was sad mainly just because I became so close to my director, trainer, Hailey-Miss TN USA, Shannon-Miss GA Teen USA, and everyone that helped me through the year! I would go hang out with them nearly every day! I would say the best way to explain it was bittersweet.
Lastly, what have you been up to since your reign as Miss TN Teen USA ended?
Since my reign, I have done some modeling, attended a few events, and judged several pageants. But mainly, I have just been a normal teenage girl! I enjoyed my senior year. I just graduated and will be attending UTC in the fall!