Pageant News Bureau - Miss Teen USA 2005, page 5

All fired up

New Mexico's official name is "Land of Enchantment," and that fits. But unofficially, it's the state that gets no respect. Every few years there's a funny story in the media about Americans who don't grasp geography and think New Mexico is a foreign country.

Sometimes, New Mexico pageants don't get the attention they deserve, either, but Brittany Toll is working to fix that. She approached PNB insisting that we expand our coverage of her state. And since she's Miss New Mexico Teen USA, we're delighted to oblige.

We know what you're thinking: She wants publicity for herself. Well, it's true she doesn't mind the attention. But you only have to talk with this sweet-faced blonde for one minute to see that she's no prima donna. She's in love with her state, and she's positively giddy about the Miss Teen USA Pageant. She's their best salesman.

Ms. Toll could sell anything, because she's a true believer. When she's not singing the praises of New Mexico sunsets, she's talking about the generosity of New Mexico residents, or how special her family is. She says the kind of nice things about other people that would make those people blush.

OK, let's stick to talking about her. She was actually born in Los Angeles, and came to New Mexico as a youngster. She lives in Las Cruces, a small city that once played host to the Miss Teen USA Pageant. Her nickname is "Brit-Brat," and she's good-natured about it. (A real brat would never have such a nickname.)

She decided to get into pageants because she saw a parade with beauty queens in it. We've heard of kids seeing a parade and running away to join the circus, but this was a new one.

Ms. Toll is excited about the future, whether she wins Miss Teen USA or not. "I might become a veterinarian, or a broadcaster, or get into law or politics," she says. "Every door is open to me. I have the world in my hands."

She's grateful to New Mexico and to the Miss Teen USA system. But she did a lot for herself. You probably guessed that.

Maybe it's the sun, and maybe it's Sonja

Is 2005 the year of the "Northerners"? The Miss USA Pageant had its first winner from North Carolina. The Miss Universe crown went to a beauty from Canada, the land that some jokingly call the Great White North.

Just in case it's a trend, we decided to start our Miss Teen USA coverage way up north in Alaska. And what a place it is! Vast, wild, spectacular. In the deep summer -- which happens to be Miss Teen USA season -- Alaska is known as the Land of the Midnight Sun.

Sonja Garness, Miss Alaska Teen USA
Photos by Benjamin Gibbs / PNB

When you see Sonja Garness, Miss Alaska Teen USA, you're grateful for all that light. She's something to behold. You'd even say she glows.

Part of it may be in her genes -- she's the younger sister of Rachel Garness, Miss Alaska Teen USA 2003. Part of it comes from exercise, from years of soccer, ballet, cheerleading and every outdoor sport in the North Country.

At 17, Ms. Garness has already gained fame beyond Alaska in "figure pageants," competing almost exclusively against women older than herself. Figure pageants are about being fit and being feminine. Have you ever seen anyone who has that combination down more perfectly?

Did we tell you she's smart? She's going to graduate early from high school and head to the University of Anchorage on scholarship. She's interested in becoming a doctor.

And did we tell you her nickname? It's Sony, as in the electronics giant. She's definitely state of the art.

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