Local Teen Crowned Maryland's First Miss Teen USA

A teen overcomes the odds for the first time.

Jessica Kartalija reports Kamie Crawford never entered a pageant before and after years of being teased by her peers, she never expected to end up where she is today.

It's a girl's dream come true to have a beautiful dress, a sparkling crown and the title of Miss Teen USA.

"I'm Maryland's first Miss Teen USA. It's a great accomplishment for me. I'm making history," said Kamie Crawford.

Kamie's not the typical beauty queen; she won the crown on her very first try.

"I got really far, and it's huge for me and it's huge for the entire pageant community for someone to come and win. This shows it's not impossible because it's not your first one," said Crawford.

Kamie may be unusually in the pageant world, but in elementary and middle school in Montgomery County she dealt with the same tough times that most young girls face.

"People were mean. They use to do terrible things to me," said Kamie.

Back then bullies teased her about her weight and hair and she suffered from low self-esteem.

"I used to cry every night, every night for years, just because I didn't have that confidence," said Crawford.

Using her mother as a role model, she gained confidence and she just graduated from Winston Churchill High School. At 17-years-old, she's heading off to the University of Alabama and then to medical school. As the oldest of five girls, Kamie is paving the way for her sisters.

"I'm like the guinea pig for anything that can possibly happen. For me, it's like my mom is watching me go through high school, going to college. And my sisters are going to be going through the same thing, but I have to do it first, so I am the one who gets in the most trouble and everything," said Crawford.

Her biggest challenges are what many teens her age face all the time.

"High school is a crazy time, and you really have to remain focused," said Crawford.

She is using her story to inspire other teens.

"I do a lot of speaking appearances with young girls in the inner city schools and I talk to them about having the right confidence and believing in themselves," said Crawford.

Kamie never imagined herself walking the runway in a diamond crown, but she's anxious to be a role model.

She has a plan on how she can help the younger generation.

"Young people today don't really have many positive influences to look up to. Well, for me, it's really being a positive influence in these people's lives. And especially as an African-American young girl, you can do anything, that's the main thing" said Crawford.

Kamie's is currently living in New York City where she performs her duties as Miss Teen USA and next year, she'll go to University of Alabama.