Sydney Robertson of Williamsport recently was crowned the second runner-up of the 2012 Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA pageant. She was honored during the competition that was held Dec. 2 to 4 at the Hyatt Regency in Pittsburgh.
She is the daughter of Diane and Allan Robertson of Williamsport.
As second runner-up, Sydney will receive two scholarships, one valued at $40,000 and another for $8,000, according to her father.
Article Photos
PHOTO COURTESY OF EDWIN SHAW PHOTOGRAPHY
Sydney Robertson was the second runner-up of the 2011 Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA pageant. Robertson, wearing a dress from Amber Rose, 123 W. Fourth St., is shown during the pageant.
"She was the youngest participant in the 14 to 19 category," Allan said. "For her to finish her first event in the top three is pretty outstanding."
Sydney said she found out about the pageant online, through an advertisement on Facebook.
"The application process was basic information about me, then I had an interview with the pageant coordinator. She verified my information and really tried to get to know me," Sydney said. "Then, a short time afterwards, I received an official acceptance letter in the mail from the pageant administrator."
At this point, Sydney and her family have not decided if she will compete again.
"Right now I am just enjoying the whole experience from the Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA pageant," Sydney said.
An eighth-grader at Connections Academy, Sydney, 14, is active in her community and with extracurricular activities.
"In recent years I have been active in the Williamsport summer swim team. I love theater performing. I have performed at both the Curtain Middle School musical performance of 'Willy Wonka,' and many shows at Community Theatre League," she said. "This year was also my first performance in the big summer ACT?UP! production 'Hairspray' at the Community Arts Center. In the summers, I volunteer at CTL to help with the children's theater camp, and just recently participated in the Williamsport Youth Choir. My family is active in a small spiritual community and I have helped with many community projects over the past few years."
Sydney said she hopes to graduate high school a year early to attend college to study marine biology or zoology.
"My favorite subject is science," she said.
"She wants to be an animal trainer," Allan said about his daughter's future plans. "That's her passion."
Sydney added that she has three animals: one dog and two cats - Lucky, Meesha and Toodles.
Her favorite part of the three-day pageant competition was the experience.
"I truly enjoyed it all, from meeting new people, to my personal interview part of the competition with the judges. It was fun being able to allow who I am, and my personality, to shine through," Sydney said. "Like I mentioned earlier, I love performing, and walking the runway in front of the audience was great."
Sydney said there was a lot of preparation that went into the pageant, but she did not have any professional help.
"I had to get sponsors, shop for the outfits for the competitions, plan my prep time during the competition. I had to get comfortable walking in heels, so I often did that throughout my day around the house," she said. "My mom and dad were a big help, from practicing for my personal interview, to make-up and hair, wardrobe planning, etc."
She and her family added that pageant competition provides a wonderful opportunity for young women to obtain scholarships for college, to travel, and explore various opportunities in public speaking, fashion, photography and acting.
"Pageants aren't just based on outward beauty. Much of it is how you carry yourself. Your poise and your confidence, your ability to communicate, and you as a person overall," Sydney said. "It's a wonderful opportunity to allow who you are as a person to shine through."
