Lauren Nicole McKenzie will be among numerous girls competing for the title of Miss Teen Alabama at the 2007 State Pageant to be held in Tuscaloosa.

The rising 11th grader decided to compete in the Miss Teen Alabama State Pageant after receiving an invitation from Daphne High School,.

To even be considered for the pageant, girls must receive either a teacher or civic recommendation.

“This is a scholarship opportunity,” Lauren said from her home on Saturday.

The winner of the pageant will receive a $1,000 cash scholarship and a $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond, and will be eligible to compete for the national title of Miss Teen America.

The winner’s school will also receive $250 from the Miss Teen America Scholarship and Recognition Program.

Though the talent portion is optional, Lauren will present two talents –— creative writing and dance.

Lauren has been taking dance classes at Susan’s Academy of Dance for 13 years. She will perform an en pointe and lyrical ballet number at the competition.

Writing was just another creative avenue for Lauren to explore and she wanted to share her talent with the judges.

“I needed some way to vent so I started writing. I mostly write poetry when I write,” she said.

Lauren will present a poem she had written about her grandmother who passed away in September. She read the poem—entitled “I Remember” —at her grandmother’s funeral.

Lauren is a member of the Daphne High School Colorguard and Symphonic Band, National Honor Society and Key Club.

She is also active in her church’s youth group, Lightkeepers Youth Program, at Christ the King in Daphne.

She is currently working on her Gold Girl Scout award and has already achieved her Bronze and Silver Awards. During her entire school attendance, she has only missed three days of school.

Though Lauren drives a Nissan Frontier King Cab truck which has a “Princess” tag on the front, her parents note she has a friendly competitive streak, especially when competing with her younger brother for grades.

Her parents, Tim and Cecilia McKenzie of Spanish Fort, are her biggest supporters.

“She puts more pressure on herself than we ever could,” Tim McKenzie said.

Lauren is also working this summer at the Spanish Fort site for the YMCA summer camp where she works with 9-13 year olds. She is also attending DHS Colorguard camp every night this week, leaving her little time to pack.

But even her busy schedule is not dampening her excitement. “I’m kind of excited about meeting new people,” she siad.

Her parents stress that even to be invited to the competition is an honor. Lauren plans on attending UAB or the University of Alabama with a major in elementary or special education.

Lauren said “positive encouragement from home” is what has driven her to become such a high achiever.

The judging categories for the competition are: Scholastic Record, Achievement and Service to School and Community, Personal Development of Talents and Skills, General Awareness Written Test, Personality Projection in Formal Wear and Interview.

The State Pageant Finals will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Sun., July 29 in Sellers Auditorium on the University of Alabama campus.

The event is open to the general public, and tickets will be available for purchase at the door.

Special guests for the event will include the current reigning Miss Teen Alabama, Roxanna Sabghi of Huntsville.

“This pageant truly represents the young women of the 21st Century,” National Pageant Founder Warren Alexander, said in a news release. “Sixty percent of the judging involves written resumes and testing, with the strongest single category being the interview with the judges.”