Ocoee High graduate to compete in upcoming Miss Teen pageant

OCOEE  While looking to start a modeling career, Ocoee High graduate Katy Vencatasawmy never anticipated she would be competing for a crown along the way.

But on Sunday, Dec. 3, that’s exactly what she’ll be doing  in the 2017 Miss Teen pageant.

The 18-year-old Ocoee resident recently decided to pursue a modeling career and began posting headshots on different modeling sites. That’s when she got a letter in the mail inviting her to interview for a chance to participate in the Miss Teen pageant.

“When I was selected, I was kind of shocked,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to do this but never thought I’d have the chance to compete in a big pageant like this. Someone obviously had the confidence in me to refer me, so that was exciting to have.”

She first had to interview with the pageant coordinator and then found out she was referred by someone anonymously. Later, she learned she was accepted to compete and could move on to the next step of securing $595 in sponsorships from local businesses and organizations to cover pageant costs. 

“When I was selected, I was kind of shocked. I’ve always wanted to do this but never thought I’d have the chance to compete in a big pageant like this. Someone obviously had the confidence in me to refer me, so that was exciting to have.”— Katy Vencatasawmy

“(It was exciting) having the sponsors, too — some people were just giving me money and didn’t want a receipt or anything,” she said. “For them to trust me and show that they’re supporting me, that was really heartwarming, as well.”

Vencatasawmy will be in the Miss Teen division with other girls ages 16 to 20. She will have a personal interview the day before with the judges, and on the day of the pageant, she will compete in casual-wear and formal-wear modeling routines.

“I went to a training, and when we were there, we were taught the positions — the way you stand when you’re posing for casual and formal wear,” Vencatasawmy said. “I had to learn to do that and also do that in heels, which is very difficult. We practiced good interview etiquette and talked about eye contact and exiting and entering the room.”

And as she does all of this, she will be competing for a complete modeling package, a chance to participate in the 2019 national pageant here in Orlando, and her share of more than $30,000 in prizes and scholarships.

“This is my first real-deal pageant,” Vencatasawmy said. “I want to focus on having fun and meeting other girls, experiencing and taking it all in. … Whenever I see the winners of different pageants, they’re always there to inspire other girls to reach for their dreams. I feel like I want to to be that person, to inspire others and confidence, because confidence doesn’t come easy for everyone.

“My past wasn’t really the greatest,” she said. “It was hard to overcome, and this pageant is kind of giving me a chance to rise out of that and inspire other girls, that they can do this too, no matter what your past is or what you come from.”