Harlingen beauty wins Miss Teen USA 2011

HARLINGEN — Danielle Doty of Harlingen won the Miss Teen USA 2011 competition Saturday at the Atlantis, Paradise Island and Resort in The Bahamas.

“This has been a dream come true; it’s awesome,” the 18-year-old said Monday.

Doty beat out 50 other teen beauties for the title.

The contestants competed in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview.

Doty’s interview discussed whether she supports teens receiving plastic surgery.

In November, Doty became the first teenager from the Rio Grande Valley to win the title of Miss Texas Teen USA.

Doty has been competing in beauty pageants since the age of 7. She won the title of Miss Texas Junior Pre-Teen in 2003.

In January, Doty was ranked ninth in her senior class at Harlingen High School South, and was a straight-A, honor roll student as well as a Texas Scholar, member of the National Honor Society and a dancer and cheerleader.

After the intense, weeklong competition in The Bahamas, Doty traveled to Miami for the Mercedes-Benz Swim Fashion Week, and she will travel to New York City for the New York Media Week.

Doty said she plans to return to Harlingen before heading to college, and is considering attending the New York Film Academy.

Doty is the daughter of Kevin and Elizabeth Doty.

“We are so proud of Danielle,” they said in a news release Monday. “She has worked incredibly hard to prepare for the competition and is so deserving of the crown.

“We look forward to supporting her every step of the way.”

“Being crowned Miss Teen USA is such an honor,” Doty said. “I can’t wait to work with charitable alliances such as Best Buddies, DARE and Girl Talk, and to serve as a role model for teen girls.

“I am so proud to represent not only Harlingen, but now young women across the whole USA.”

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Danielle Altenburg writes for the Valley Morning Star in Harlingen.