Upon being announced as Miss Illinois Teen USA 2007, Victoria Davis, a 17 year-old resident of Thawville, was absolutely astounded! Having never competed in the USA system, she expected little from the pageant weekend, anticipating nothing more than three days full of making new friendships and, God willing, a Top-15 finish. Victoria sustained those new friendships she was expecting and came home with much more and proudly displays the crown and banner as proof.

Victoria is presently a senior at Tri-Point High School where she is currently ranked number one in her class in addition to being Captain of the Varsity Cheerleading squad. Her other achievements include being published as a Poet & Author, earning the American Legion Essay Award for the past four years, serving as the International Club President at her high school, and securing the Photographer of the Year Award in 2006. During the summer of 2006, Victoria was also elected Attorney General at Illini Girls State and, one of her most prized accomplishments, Victoria played a vital role on her competitive cheerleading squad as she aided her team in securing three National titles.

Victoria includes writing, studying Spanish, gymnastics, cheering, and playing with her dog, Zoe, among her hobbies. Her dream job is to be a journalist for USA Today, writing stories that impact the lives of people everywhere. As she plans to attend the University of Illinois in the fall, Victoria would love to take advantage of their study abroad program hoping to visit South America in order to continue her study of the Spanish language.

During her reign as Miss Illinois Teen USA 2007, Victoria would like to show young people that you don’t have to be born with everything to be successful. Determination and drive are so much more important than items with only materialistic value. She feels that her enthusiasm and optimism set her apart from the masses, understanding that life does not always follow the blue prints that were initially lain out. So, when being forced to undergo hardship, why not do it with a smile? “After all,” she says, “for every minute you’re angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness!”

Victoria is thrilled to represent Illinois in the Miss Teen USA pageant this summer as she hopes to bring the crown home to the great Land of Lincoln.