If 17 year old Haylee Puckett’s life is observed from the outside, one would assume she is a typical involved teenager. Puckett is a current senior at Summer Creek high school, balancing advanced classes with being a varsity cheerleader. Puckett is a sister, daughter, cousin, and friend to many. Aside from her relationships and school involvement, Puckett is a pageant queen, who was recently crowned Miss Texas Teen.
Although she has been involved in the world of pageantry for several years, becoming Miss Texas Teen was no easy feat. To see how Puckett got to where she is today, it’s important to look back to where her pageant career began.
“I have been in the pageant world for about 5 years now, which feels crazy to say because I feel like I just started yesterday,” Puckett explained.
Surprising to many, she has not always possessed the confidence she has now.
“I began pageants as a way to step outside of my comfort zone and become more confident in myself,” Puckett explained.
“Believe it or not there was a point where I was very shy and on top of that insecure,” Puckett said. “This caused me to become upset with myself, and I figured pageantry would be a nice way out of that mindset. I guess my judgment was right!”
Even when Puckett had just begun competing, winning the title of Miss Texas Teen was an “absolute dream”.
“I remember when I first decided that Texas Teen was my dream title, I had a vision board in my room of how I envisioned winning, and the things I’d do.” Puckett said.
That vision board ended up coming true right before Puckett’s senior year, but not without an immense amount of practice and support from friends.
Chelsea Real, a fellow cheerleader and close friend of Puckett, shared in her victory and challenges. Real recalls all of the time Haylee spent on calls with sponsors and her pageant coaches:
“Even when we would hang out with our friends, she would sit in my car and get on her zoom calls with her coaches that made her the pageant queen she is today,” Real exclaimed. “She would also make me watch her walk, or make me ask her interview questions so she could practice her responses.”
“It was an incredible honor to win the Miss Texas Teen USA title,” Puckett said.
“This is something that I’ve looked forward to since starting pageantry! This was actually my second to last year of eligibility to compete for the title of Miss Texas Teen USA, so to win on my first try, and right before my senior year was a dream come true.”
Real was also overcome with joy for her friend. “It felt so surreal seeing her win,” Real said.
“I was sobbing when I heard her name called as the winner,” Real said. “I was jumping up and down waiting for her name to be called, and once it did, her mom and I burst into tears. It was so amazing seeing my best friend’s biggest dream become reality.”
Moving forward from Miss Texas, Haylee advanced into the final round of teen pageants, Miss Teen USA, where she ultimately placed 3rd runner up overall.
“Placing third runner up in the Nation to the title of Miss Teen USA was the icing on the cake!” Puckett exclaimed.
Through the hard work and successes of her experience in pageantry, Puckett is not the same girl as she was before. The confidence and experiences she has taken from her work in pageants have shaped her into who she is today: Haylee Puckett, Miss Texas Teen.
