Vanessa Semrow, Miss Teen USA 2002.

Girls Who Rule
Vanessa Semrow, Miss Teen USA 2002

Interviewed by Elizabeth McCoy, staff writer

Imagine a job with perks such as:

• VIP invitations to movie premieres, Broadway shows, and launch parties
• A trip for four to Hawaii
• A luxurious New York City apartment—with housekeeping and laundry service
• Opportunities to travel around the country
• A "Summer in the City" scholarship to the School for Film and Television, in New York
• The latest model motor scooter
• Modeling portfolios created by top photographers

These are just some of the prizes Vanessa Semrow of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, won as Miss Teen USA 2002.

Teen Queen

Vanessa heard about the pageant from her modeling connections and thought it would be fun to "try something new." She says life as Miss Teen USA has been a "constant whirlwind." Vanessa spent most of her year as Miss Teen USA speaking against violence and drugs, and encouraging other young people to set and achieve goals.

Inspiration

Vanessa has always been orgullosa (proud) of her Hispanic roots—her mother's family is from Spain. That's why more than any of the prizes and perks, the biggest reward for her has been the opportunity to be a role model, inspiring other young people, especially Latinas, to reach for their dreams.

Recently, the STUDIO 2B team met Vanessa while she was in Philadelphia for an anti-drug rally and learned that she has much more on her mind than the glitz and glamour of the beauty pageant beat. Here's her message to you.

Vanessa's Tips for Being You

"Having had some experiences in high school, I know what it's like to have to deal with peer pressure and the negative influences that other people try to bring into your life (whether it's because of a lack of self-esteem or their jealousy or whatever their reasons might be). Basically, my message is don't let other people's opinions define you. If you have a goal, go for it! Don't let someone else destroy that dream for you because you are the only person who is going to get you there."

If you are dealing with violence in your life, Vanessa says:

"The best thing to do in a situation involving violence is to tell someone about it, whether it's a friend, your family, or others. I think you need to tell others that something is not quite right because you as one person may not be able to solve this situation."

Next Stop

This spring, Vanessa set new goals for herself. She plans to go to college, possibly to study criminal law; continue modeling; and try her hand at image consulting. As Vanessa says, "I don't set limits to the goals I make for myself. I just keep at it until it gets done."