I had the opportunity to compete for Miss Georgia Teen USA in both 2003 and 2004. The first year, I competed as a complete fluke. I had never been in a pageant before in my life. We got something in the mail addressed to my much younger sister, which is what officially informed us of the pageant and its possibilities. I never really had many girlfriends’ growing up, which was something I had always wanted. Given that when I was younger, I was bullied for just about everything, and I always seemed to be interested in the outdoors and music, rather than big bows and sequins. Wow… did that ever change.

The first year competing was amazing; I actually made it to the Top 15 and won Miss Teen Congeniality! This means I had done what I set out to do through competing and had made several close friends. This also meant that I was exposed to all the different pageant dynamics and most importantly…competition.

By the time I was competing for the title I inevitably won, Miss Georgia Teen USA 2004, I was training myself physically and mentally to be the best “Brooke” I could be. The dynamics went from only searching for companionship, to winning a competition. By round two, I competed to win. Not only did I want to win the title upon entering the pageant, but I also wanted to learn more about my personal goals, my intelligence level, my compassion, and myself. Ever since competing for Miss Georgia Teen USA, I have been able to take what I have learned about myself and succeed in life. The pageant motivated me to try. Try to be a more active participant in my own life, try to be compassionate, try to be aware of social issues, try to be healthy both physically and mentally, and to represent a state, which I will forever proudly call home… Georgia.

What was going through your head when you were announced as the new Miss Georgia Teen USA?

I honestly cannot even remember anything past the first question I answered during the finals. Regardless of what it was, I felt that I that I had totally BOMBED it. I had already started crying backstage because I was so close to becoming involved with such a wonderful opportunity, which meant so much to me. When they called my name as the winner, it took a second to register that I had won. I did not think there was any way they would have actually called MY name. Then my next thought, was to remember and perfect the choreography for the crowing, in which we had been instructed several several times. After I indeed walked the opposite direction a few times and spun around in a few random circles, a few stage directors graciously helped me by collectively gesturing me to exit the stage. It wasn’t until the following morning, when I met Kim Greenwood for breakfast and signed the papers certifying me as Miss Georgia Teen USA 2004 did I realize that, that girl was ME. Winning was amazing, it was a shock, and more than anything it was an absolute privilege.

What would be your first thought when you were called into the top 15 at Miss Teen USA?

When I competed live on NBC at Miss Teen USA 2004, it was my 18^th Birthday. Therefore, the day was already incredibly special. At Miss Georgia Teen USA, I was the last one called for Top 15. At Nationals, I was the first. They had to repeat my name twice, on live TV, when my fellow contestants then had to start nudging me. Saying “Brooke, GO, that’s you go take your place on the stage”. I was VERY shocked, and very embarrassed watching those re-plays as well. After it sunk in that I had made top 15, I then started listening to the states called after me. Trying to feel out and locate my competition. Clearly, I could have used a bit more time. The re-plays do make us laugh whenever mom pulls out the tapes, the perma-grin I had on my face combined with the sheer horror really made for that “special” look.

What would be your most memorable moment at Miss Teen USA?

To be honest, it was seeing my mother after the pageant was over. Naturally, I was  bummed out that I did not go further in the finals. All and all, these pageants are competitions. So seeing my mom, hearing her tell me she thought I did so well, and seeing her for the first time as an 18 year old “adult”… is something I will never forget. I will also never forget that my friend Tori (Miss Colorado Teen 2004) got the entire zipper of her evening gown ripped out directly before preliminaries. I thought that type of thing was just in movies. There are several memories that I will hold dear from the experience. It really is difficult to pin point just one. Being in Palm Springs was amazing, getting to spend time with a camp for special needs children was a beautiful experience, realizing the impact of this pageant system on a National level was surreal, seeing fields and fields of wind energy farms further ignited my interest in green living and energy. They all are memorable, just for different reasons. I think that is the thing with pageantry, its not just one memory over the other. It is an experience for each woman to share, a journey. A journey that you all go into together, and one you all come out of together.

What emotions were you going through when you had to give away your title as Miss Georgia Teen USA?

I was in no way sad about another girl being able to have this pageant title change her life in the multitude of ways that it had changed mine. I think it is beautiful that this title can be passed on to many different individuals who can all bring different positive attributes to the pageant community. It did not hurt that I also agreed with the judges’ decision, as crowning Katie as the winner. If I would have been judging I would have chosen her as well. I knew the title was in great hands, which made it exciting.