Pageant News Bureau - National Teen-Ager 2002

There is rarely a cheering audience on hand when a friendship begins, but that's what happened with Meagan Corlin and Beth Scales.

It was a hot night in Nashville, Tennessee, and the two of them were the center of attention on a brightly lit stage. Ms. Corlin had just been crowned Miss National Teen-Ager 2002, while Ms. Scales had been crowned Miss Junior National Teen-Ager 2002. They congratulated each other, they joked, they found they were feeling exactly the same way -- overwhelmed.

Meagan Corlin

Meagan Corlin
Photo courtesy of Miss National Teen-Ager.

America's National Teen-Ager is not just any pageant. It has a sense of tradition. It was established long before most contemporary teen competitions, and it has never changed its style to compete with the newcomers. "None of the others compare," said Ms. Corlin. "Your heart has to be right for it," said Ms. Scales.

Ms. Corlin had come to the competition representing New Hampshire, where she is known for her work in musical theater. Ms. Scales, from Oklahoma, had previously been featured in a PNB story titled "New Acquaintances." (How's that for an omen?)

Their crowns give them a lot in common, but the two girls have rather different pageant backgrounds. Ms. Corlin started in pageants early, at age 7, but only competed occasionally as she entered her teens. "I'm pretty particular," she says. Before she reached the National Teen-Ager stage, she had never won a national title.

Meagan Corlin is considering becoming a marine biologist.
Photo courtesy of Meagan Corlin

Meagan Corlin performs in "The King and I."
Photo courtesy of Meagan Corlin

Ms. Scales grew up in a part of Georgia that is pure pageant country. Many of her friends competed at major pageants, including Miss National Teen-Ager, and her neighbor became Miss Georgia USA. But she herself never took part in pageants at all. Then, in the late 1990s, she moved to Oklahoma and decided to give competition a try. Her rise has been rather swift.

Now they're a team. They will be representing their system at appearances around the country, including at Miss America. And even when the year is through, they may not be done with pageants.

Beth Scales
Photo by Take 2 Photo

Ms. Corlin would like to be a psychologist someday. She also loves acting and dancing and may do more of that. But for now, she leans toward becoming a marine biologist. Ms. Scales is eyeing a career in law, or possibly in the Christian ministry. But she says she might become a marine biologist. (How's that for a coincidence?)

Maybe someday, one of these young women will psychoanalyze you, or sue you, or entertain you, or help you change your sinful ways. And one of them -- or maybe both -- will tell you why your goldfish keep dying.

New friends, new crowns