Miss Junior Teen Augusta sees bigger pageants in her future

As the names of the second and first runners-up were called, Brittany Murray began to get a little nervous.

"They were so beautiful. I was thinking 'I can be happy for whoever wins,'" said the 15-year-old Evans High School sophomore who was crowned Miss Junior Teen Augusta on Aug. 5 at Augusta State University's Performing Arts Theatre.

"I was happy and relieved," said Brittany, who added she would have been happy if she had been first or second runner-up.

Brittany is no stranger to pageants, appearing in her first one at the age of 3. She was a runner-up in the Miss Evans High School pageant last year and has been a runner-up in the Miss Junior Teen Augusta.

"I love being on stage. I feel good about myself," she said. "I enjoy meeting new people and getting dressed up."

Winning this title has added to her confidence, and she plans to compete in others soon.

"I know I'm going to do the Richmond County Fair and Columbia County Fair pageants," she said.

One of her biggest goals is to compete in the Miss Teen USA pageant.

To fare well, she said she'd have to hone her talent.

At Evans High School, Brittany is a member of the drama club and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), a nonprofit national career and technical student organization.

Brittany said she plans to be very busy with FCCLA this school year.

"FCCLA has a lot of state and national projects," she said.

She's also thinking about playing on her school's soccer team this year.