Julianna White Interview
Miss New Jersey Teen USA 2006 + top 10 @ Miss Teen USA 2006 (became Miss NJ USA 2011 after the interview was done)
Why did you decide to compete in the Miss New Jersey Teen USA pageant?
Growing up, I was always known as “Danielle White’s little sister.” She was known all over the state for her athletic gifts in soccer, basketball and track so I had HUGE shoes to fill! When I went into high school, I felt kind of lost because I could never be as good as her in those areas. When I auditioned for my first play at school, I realized the stage was a place where I could be my own person and do something I loved. That’s where Miss NJ Teen USA came up – I received a letter in the mail and decided to take a chance on that stage. My entire family was put into a world we knew NOTHING about!! When I won on my 2nd go around with my prom dress and 5-year-old heels, it was such an amazing moment (my sister was very proud!)
What was going through your head when you were announced as the new Miss New Jersey Teen USA?
I was SO out of place at that pageant! I literally spent no money (except the fee to enter) – my dress, heels, swimsuit, interview outfit, makeup and so on were all things that I had already, so come pageant weekend, I felt a little inferior to the glamour girls. To top that off, my mom and I got lost on the way to my interview portion coming from a soccer game – I arrived completely disheveled and out of breathe! After I got over those things, I just told myself to have FUN. I relaxed and made friends and honestly didn’t think about winning. When the time came though – whoa! I have no idea what happened because I was so shocked that they picked me!
Tell us about your experience as the winner of a local Seventeen Magazine Runway contest.
This was the very first thing I did with modeling. I was (and still am!) obsessed with Seventeen Magazine so when I read that they were coming to town, I sent in my pictures and was chosen to be a runway model. An older girl from my high school was there as an actual paid model – not part of the competition, and she encouraged me to send pictures in to her agency. To make a long story short, I ended up signing with them and a year later I was featured IN the pages of Seventeen, in campaigns, and even on the cover of Philadelphia Magazine.
What was going through your head when you were called into the top 15 and then the top 10 at Miss Teen USA?
I’m sure it was obvious on my face how excited I was to be there. When I watched the tape, I was a little embarrassed because I was the only one freaking out haha! Even during rehearsals when I got on that stage, it was surprising how choked up I got just being there. When the moments came where my name kept being called, I was just completely full of joy – no other way to put it!
How did you select your evening gown for Miss Teen USA?
I went to NYC to pick out my gown with a few other titleholders and when I put this one on, it was about 5 sizes too big for me and the train was about 6 feet long – I did not like it. That is, until the stylist came up behind me and grabbed it to fit me … then it was perfect! When it came time for Miss Teen USA, I had lost weight and it didn’t fit me the same way it had and my enormous earrings were snapped in half (dun dun dunn) so I didn’t feel as amazing as I had in it before. Either way, that day in NYC was a memorable one picking out my gown and I will always love it!
What would be your most memorable moment at Miss Teen USA?
Honestly, I had so much fun with the friends I made. I had never met girls that had the same passions I did so I ended up growing a lot with them in those short 2 weeks. The rehearsals, events, and shows would not have been the same without them.
What would be your most memorable moment as Miss New Jersey Teen USA?
I had the BEST big sister titleholder, Jessica Boyington – so every appearance was memorable in its own way. We would laugh so hard and had the greatest times meeting new people and working together. She taught me a lot about being confident in my own skin and I really do look up to her. I still see her and we keep in touch regularly so the friendship that was made was my favorite part of being the teen titleholder.
Lastly, what have you been up to since your reign as Miss New Jersey Teen USA ended?
I have been attending The College of New Jersey pursuing a degree in Communication Studies with a minor in Theater. I have also been keeping busy modeling and acting on the side. Since my reign has ended, I have been in 3 films, starred in a bridal campaign, and have been featured in numerous commercials and ads. I am also SO excited to say that I have been hired as an in-house model on QVC! I can now be seen regular on the national station and I am extremely grateful! I look forward to competing again in the near future and until then I’m just living life to the fullest. Life is too short to be anything but happy J
Growing up, I was always known as “Danielle White’s little sister.” She was known all over the state for her athletic gifts in soccer, basketball and track so I had HUGE shoes to fill! When I went into high school, I felt kind of lost because I could never be as good as her in those areas. When I auditioned for my first play at school, I realized the stage was a place where I could be my own person and do something I loved. That’s where Miss NJ Teen USA came up – I received a letter in the mail and decided to take a chance on that stage. My entire family was put into a world we knew NOTHING about!! When I won on my 2nd go around with my prom dress and 5-year-old heels, it was such an amazing moment (my sister was very proud!)
What was going through your head when you were announced as the new Miss New Jersey Teen USA?
I was SO out of place at that pageant! I literally spent no money (except the fee to enter) – my dress, heels, swimsuit, interview outfit, makeup and so on were all things that I had already, so come pageant weekend, I felt a little inferior to the glamour girls. To top that off, my mom and I got lost on the way to my interview portion coming from a soccer game – I arrived completely disheveled and out of breathe! After I got over those things, I just told myself to have FUN. I relaxed and made friends and honestly didn’t think about winning. When the time came though – whoa! I have no idea what happened because I was so shocked that they picked me!
Tell us about your experience as the winner of a local Seventeen Magazine Runway contest.
This was the very first thing I did with modeling. I was (and still am!) obsessed with Seventeen Magazine so when I read that they were coming to town, I sent in my pictures and was chosen to be a runway model. An older girl from my high school was there as an actual paid model – not part of the competition, and she encouraged me to send pictures in to her agency. To make a long story short, I ended up signing with them and a year later I was featured IN the pages of Seventeen, in campaigns, and even on the cover of Philadelphia Magazine.
What was going through your head when you were called into the top 15 and then the top 10 at Miss Teen USA?
I’m sure it was obvious on my face how excited I was to be there. When I watched the tape, I was a little embarrassed because I was the only one freaking out haha! Even during rehearsals when I got on that stage, it was surprising how choked up I got just being there. When the moments came where my name kept being called, I was just completely full of joy – no other way to put it!
How did you select your evening gown for Miss Teen USA?
I went to NYC to pick out my gown with a few other titleholders and when I put this one on, it was about 5 sizes too big for me and the train was about 6 feet long – I did not like it. That is, until the stylist came up behind me and grabbed it to fit me … then it was perfect! When it came time for Miss Teen USA, I had lost weight and it didn’t fit me the same way it had and my enormous earrings were snapped in half (dun dun dunn) so I didn’t feel as amazing as I had in it before. Either way, that day in NYC was a memorable one picking out my gown and I will always love it!
What would be your most memorable moment at Miss Teen USA?
Honestly, I had so much fun with the friends I made. I had never met girls that had the same passions I did so I ended up growing a lot with them in those short 2 weeks. The rehearsals, events, and shows would not have been the same without them.
What would be your most memorable moment as Miss New Jersey Teen USA?
I had the BEST big sister titleholder, Jessica Boyington – so every appearance was memorable in its own way. We would laugh so hard and had the greatest times meeting new people and working together. She taught me a lot about being confident in my own skin and I really do look up to her. I still see her and we keep in touch regularly so the friendship that was made was my favorite part of being the teen titleholder.
Lastly, what have you been up to since your reign as Miss New Jersey Teen USA ended?
I have been attending The College of New Jersey pursuing a degree in Communication Studies with a minor in Theater. I have also been keeping busy modeling and acting on the side. Since my reign has ended, I have been in 3 films, starred in a bridal campaign, and have been featured in numerous commercials and ads. I am also SO excited to say that I have been hired as an in-house model on QVC! I can now be seen regular on the national station and I am extremely grateful! I look forward to competing again in the near future and until then I’m just living life to the fullest. Life is too short to be anything but happy J