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Liberty Lake 16-year-old Davy Flambouras was recently named Miss Spokane Teen USA 2014. She will compete with other teenagers throughout the state Oct. 18-19 for the title of Miss Washington Teen USA.

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Profiles: Embracing the pageantry
9/29/2014 10:41:28 AM

By Mary Kate Koch
Splash Contributor

While most teenagers are just worried about making it through their classes and landing a date to Homecoming, Central Valley High School junior Davy Flambouras is worrying about her performance in the fast-approaching Miss Washington Teen USA pageant. 

Although she is now the reigning Miss Spokane Teen, Flambouras, who lives in Liberty Lake, almost didn't get involved in the pageantry. While competing in pageants was something she had always seen in movies and on TV, she did not know how to get involved in real life despite her interest. 

It was not until Flambouras took a school trip for the state DECA tournament in Seattle last March that she learned about the Miss Washington Teen program from a recruiter.

"I was at the mall shopping with my friends when all of a sudden I got stopped by a girl named Christine Serb, and she said, ‘You are so beautiful. You look like Miss Universe,'" Flambouras said.

At first, Flambouras just blushed and thanked her, but the more Serb talked, the more Flambouras' interest was piqued.

"She started telling me all about it, and I ended up talking to her for about an hour," Flambouras said.

After this initial meeting at the mall, Serb then invited Flambouras and her mother, Dale Flambouras, to an informational meeting about the Miss Teen USA program. Both mother and daughter quickly fell in love with the idea as they listened to the goals and benefits of the program.  

"I didn't really know much about it before then," Flambouras said. "It's one of those things that you see on TV all the time, but you never really know how you can get involved with it. It was cool I got the opportunity to try." 

While Flambouras signed up for fun, she knows how serious the competition can be. Accordingly, Flambouras created a preparation schedule that has kept her very busy, even over the summer when most other kids her age were relaxing. 

"I've been trying to get a gym schedule going because of the swimsuit section," Flambouras said. "Then, I had to get alterations on my dress, I'm getting extensions, I have to go to Seattle for my workshops, and I'm prepping for the choreographed dance we have to do."

About once a month, Flambouras and her mother drive to Seattle for workshops hosted by the pageant. These workshops focus on building pageant skills and range from learning interview techniques to mastering model walking. 

"There's a lot to do," Flambouras said. "You know, you want to do well, you want to get up there and be the best. That's the hard part, knowing that you want to win, but realizing you can only do the best you can."

Flambouras and her mother also have to go to Seattle for most of their pageant shopping because Spokane does not have the market for pageant supplies. The dress, shoes and jewelry Flambouras will wear in the pageant were all purchased in Seattle.

This is one of the downsides of the program, according to Flambouras. Competing in the pageant requires frequent traveling to the western side of the state, and few pageant activities are held around Spokane.  

Unlike states on the East Coast, where hundreds of teen girls will sign up to participate in their state's pageant, Washington often has only a couple dozen participate. Even fewer girls from the eastern side of Washington participate in the pageant because the pageant is hosted in Seattle. 

However, Flambouras said her family is fully supportive with all the traveling and training her bid to be Miss Washington Teen USA requires. Since most kids her age are involved in club sports that also require a lot of time and money, Flambouras' parents are treating this pageant run as if it were her sport. Flambouras has never been that interested in competitive sports anyway.

"I don't like to run," Flambouras said.

Instead, Flambouras would much rather meet new people, and that is exactly what this program is built for.

In order to secure her title, Flambouras had to commit to getting $1,095 in sponsorships. Although a parent could technically pay the full amount, that is not what the pageant organizers want the girls to do. The aim of the sponsorship is to get the girls to network and make connections with their communities. Flambouras was eager to make these connections and sent out letters to friends, family and local businesses. 

"I like collecting the sponsors because I get to talk to people I might not have been able to talk to," Flambouras said. "And I really like walking in the shoes, too."

After securing her title, Flambouras then had to commit to selling at least 25 tickets to the pageant. Ideally, she would like to sell more in order to bring more awareness to the program. 

"One of my goals is to meet new people and make new friends," Flambouras said.

Part of the Miss Teen USA pageant is scholarship money available to participants and winners. Flambouras is only a junior in high school this fall, so she has yet to decide on a field of study, but she would love to attend Washington State University.

"I thought about cosmetology for a while, but I realized I was better at putting make-up on myself than other people," Flambouras said. "Now, I'm thinking about working with animals."

The Miss Washington Teen USA will be held on Oct. 18-19 at the Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien, Wash. The winner will move on to compete in the Miss Teen USA pageant.

• • •

Profile: Davy Flambouras

Age
16

School
Central Valley High School

Dream job
Animal caretaker working with koala bears

Favorite food
Watermelon

Favorite way to unwind
Watching my TV shows, "Pretty Little Liars" and "Teen Wolf"

Go-to coffee order
Venti Caramel Frappuccino, even though it doesn't fit in my cup holder
 
Place I most want to travel to
Greece

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