Teen Queen's Reign Revolves Around Community

Taylor Shelton seems the ideal 17-year-old high school senior.

She is involved with healthy extracurricular activities, volunteers with her little sister’s , and exudes positivity.

Shelton gives a lot of credit for her personal growth to holding the title of Miss Teen Santee.

“During my year as , I have learned how to be a more responsible young woman, and I have to be a role model for many younger children,” said Shelton, who turns 18 in May.

Shelton was a junior when she won her title.

“I am very excited to be graduating this June with the rest of my senior class, most of which I have gone to school with since ,” said Shelton. Born in San Diego, she grew up in Santee until her family recently moved to Lakeside.

In addition to being a role model to young girls, Shelton has also learned the true value or community.

“After winning a pageant, things always change a little bit,” said Shelton. “Since I have won, I’ve gotten my first job at , where I work the front ticket booth. I have been even more active in the community, going to events. I have met so many wonderful people who support me and have helped me throughout my year.”

Shelton said she wants to attend for two years and then transfer to University of California Santa Barbara. “I plan to major in child development and psychology,” she said. “I love working with children.”

As with most teens, Shelton’s future plans have changed since she ran for the pageant last year. Back then, she wanted to go into early education; she has since changed it to child therapy. “The reason for that is I think helping children with issues they are having is something I would like even more than I would as being a teacher,” Shelton said.

Shelton doesn’t cheer at even though she was on the cheerleading squad at in her sophomore year before she transferred the following year. Lest you think it’s something from Bring It On 3 – the one in which Hayden Paniettere swears she won’t cheer for another squad after transferring schools – Shelton’s decision is more attributable to the fact she’s almost too busy to add something more to her plate. As a member of a competitive all-star cheer team in Alpine called the Rocket Cheer All-Stars, Shelton still gets to flex her cheer muscles.

Shelton has the kind of resolve to succeed in many areas in life. Not one to give up on a goal, Shelton ran in the Miss Teen Santee Pageant three times before she won. Shelton enjoys pageantry– she admits being a fan of the national events.

“I absolutely love watching the Miss USA and Miss America pageants,” Shelton said. “I love watching all of the amazing and beautiful talented women that represent our states and seeing who will become the new Miss USA or Miss America.”

Since becoming Miss Teen Santee, Shelton hasn’t gone on to any of the larger pageants. She is, however, running in the Miss Teen California-World Pageant in April. “I’m excited to be training for that upcoming pageant,” she said.

The adage, “Time flies when you’re having fun,” accurately describes Shelton’s reign, which comes to an end , when a new Miss Teen Santee is crowned. “The advice I give to the next Miss Teen Santee is ‘Be yourself, have fun, and take advantage of your year – it goes by so quickly. If there is something you want to do for the city, go for it. It will be the best year of your life.”