Valley residents crowned in pageant

By Diana Cox (contact)

Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008 | 6:29 p.m.

Ileri Tunrarebi

Georgina Vaughan

Robyn VanDyke

Miss Nevada USA and Miss Teen Nevada USA crowned their newest title holders Nov. 13 at the College of Southern Nevada.

Georgina Vaughan, 20, of Summerlin was crowned Miss Nevada USA 2009 and Ileri Tunrarebi, 18, of Henderson was crowned Miss Teen Nevada USA 2009.

Vaughan competed against 21 women ages 18 to 26 and Tunrarebi was up against 11 teens ages 15 to 18.

Vaughan will represent Nevada and the Miss Universe organization in numerous appearances, interviews and events throughout the year, culminating with the 58th annual Miss USA 2009 competition at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas in April 2009. Vaughan was crowned Miss Teen Nevada USA in 2006.

Tunrarebi will appear in teen-appropriate appearances and interviews, and her reign will culminate with the 27th annual Miss Teen USA 2009 competition at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in the Bahamas next summer.

Tunrarebi was crowned National American Miss Nevada Junior Teen 2005 and National American Miss Teen Nevada 2007.

Vaughan was born and raised in Las Vegas and said she grew up watching pageants on television with her mother. The first pageant she entered, Miss Teen Nevada USA 2006, she won. She was home schooled and found that pageants were a way to meet new friends with similar interests.

Nevada has never won Miss USA, and Vaughan said she is hoping to be the one to bring the title to her home state.

Tunrarebi began competing in pageants at 15, and like Vaughan, she won the first pageant she entered. She has lived in Nevada for 10 years. She attended the Academy of Individualized Studies through the Clark County School District and graduated in 2008.

After the Miss Teen USA pageant she said she plans to take a break from the pageant world to attend Georgetown University, where she wants to study law.

One day her family would like her to represent Nigeria, her parents’ native country, in the Miss Universe Pageant, she said.

Miss South Las Vegas Claire Schreiner was crowned Miss Congeniality 2009 and Miss Summerlin Teen Audrey Denison was crowned Miss Teen Congeniality 2009.

One contestant from each pageant was also awarded Miss Photogenic 2009 with the winner being chosen by online voters. Miss Silverado Robyn VanDyke was named Miss Photogenic 2009, while the award went to Miss Nye County Teen Breanna Andes in the teen pageant.

The Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants are a joint venture between Donald J. Trump and NBC Universal.

Diana Cox can be reached at 990-8183 or diana.cox@hbcpub.com.