Q&A with SC Miss Teen USA hopeful Wesley Mitchell

Wesley Mitchell is hoping for a repeat win for South Carolina at this year’s Miss Teen USA pageant.

The 19-year-old Lexington native and current Miss South Carolina Teen USA heads to the Bahamas this week to compete for the title Saturday. Reigning Miss Teen USA and fellow South Carolinian K. Lee Graham will crown her successor at the conclusion of the pageant.

Contestants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia will be judged in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview.

Mitchell is a rising sophomore at the University of South Carolina, where she is a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. She is relatively new to the pageant world and didn’t start competing until she entered high school.

“Competing in Miss South Carolina Teen USA was my first big pageant,” she said. “Winning one on first try, which was really exciting for me.”

Winning the title of Miss Teen USA will be an even bigger victory, albeit a contentious one.

In the pageant’s 31-year history, no state has had a contestant win two years in a row.

Before Mitchell attempts to change that, Go Columbia spoke with her about her pageant prep, her favorite competition category and her fabulous evening gown.

What are you most looking forward to about the Miss Teen USA pageant?

I’m really excited to be in the Bahamas. Then I get to meet all of the teens. That will be fun. And then, of course, I’m excited for the show itself. I have a beautiful gown I can’t wait to share with everyone. Only my mom has seen it.

How have you been preparing for the competition?

I’ve been working with different coaches. I’ve been working hard on the interview portion, which I personally think is one of the most important. It’s one-on-one time with judges when they get to know who you are. I’ve also been going to the gym a lot because we do have the swimsuit part of the competition. I’ve been working with a trainer for the past nine months. And I’ve worked on walking in an evening gown. There is a little bit of a science to it on how to stand and turn to show off your gown.

Which of the three judging categories do you feel strongest in?

Interview. A lot of girls get anxious about it – and it is intimidating – but I think it is my favorite because I look at it as a conversation and not a question and answer.

Related content:

Miss Teen USA K. Lee Graham ready to relinquish her crown

View all of this year’s Miss Teen USA contestants

This story was originally published August 20, 2015 at 7:21 PM.