Miss Teen Bermuda Islands 2007, Alexa Lightbourne, spoke about her reign to the Hamilton Rotarians last week.

The 16-year-old, Berkeley Institute honour student recalled the highlight of her reign as being able to represent Bermuda in St. Kitts at the Miss Talented Teen Caribbean Pageant, where she placed third runner up.

She also noted that she made history by being the first Bermudian to ever place as a finalist.

"I was so proud to represent Bermuda internationally and to bring home the award," she said.

"The experience was exciting and highly worthwhile because it introduced me to people in other parts of the world. It also allowed me to realise just how blessed we are in Bermuda."

Alexa said she was very surprised at the number of Bermudians who attended the competition to support her.

"I looked out into the crowd and saw Bermudian flags flying in the audience to support me," she told Rotarians.

Miss Lightbourne has been busy during her year, her list of community acts and appearances include: guest speaker for Pride Bermuda, attending the Premier's concert, crowning winners at the Little Miss Princess Tea Party, making a presentation to Dame Jennifer Smith, opening the Jean and Gene Christmas Show, speaking at the Young Citizens Awards Ceremony for Teen Services, participating in the trash-a-thon for KBB, participating in the Marcelle Clemens Youth Explosion Concert, participating in three parades on the Island, presenting at Tha Underground Awards and speaking twice at the Hamilton Rotary Club.

"One important lesson that I have learned is that the pageant is not just a beauty pageant," she said. "I have learned to be more articulate, to have more confidence and to appreciate different cultures and personalities.

"I have also learned that you must prove that you are worthy of the awards that you earn. For me, the goal was to win the title of Miss Teen, but I have gained so much more."

Alexa also placed first runner up in the Hal Jackson Talented Teens competition and won the Miss Future Leader of Tomorrow award. In 2007, she won the Miss Teen Sweet Charity award for her volunteer services around the Island.

Her most recent achievement was earning the title of Miss AME Youth-of-the-Year in March.

With her title as Miss Teen Bermuda came challenges, Alexa said, such as choosing sensible peers to associate with, having a good standard of behaviour and maintaining self respect at all times.

She also said she plans to organise a concert to close out her reign which will feature international artist Miri-Ben Ari of Israel — who is a Hip-Hop violinist.

Alexa is also a violinist and pianist and is currently studying the saxophone.

"I wanted to do something extraordinary to close my reign. No other Miss Teen has ventured such and undertaking," she said. "The goal is to have a concert and have part proceeds given to a registered charity.

"I want to give something back to Bermuda for the support that has been given to me throughout my reign.

"I wish to leave behind a legacy as Miss Teen Bermuda Islands 2007. I believe that I have raised the bar of the Miss Teen Bermuda Islands Pageant by the successes that I have had and I set a standard for others to follow."

The benefit concert will take place on August 15 at City Hall Theatre and Alexa will be giving up her crown on August 17 at the same venue as a new teen queen is crowned.