The crowning of 2004 Miss Teen Bermuda Islands, Stacey Pitcher (pictured), was seen as a victory for Portuguese and Bermudian cultures.

In what organiser Terry Lee Smith called an extremely tight race, the 17-year-old Smith?s North contestant triumphed at a sold-out pageant on Sunday night.

In her platform address, the daughter of Maria Araujo Noel Pitcher told how she grew up as part of two cultures: Bermudian and Portuguese.

A contestant?s platform, said Mr. Smith, was vital to selection for it underlined the issue each contestant wished to promote if successful. ?Stacey?s was on Portuguese culture and her sharing two cultures in Bermuda. She was the only contestant who actually had a slide presentation while she gave her platform, which was very impressive.?

A Mount Saint Agnes academy grade 11 student, Miss Pitcher is a Student Council president and maths star. She is also active in her church?s youth ministry and helps with Sunday School at St. Theresa?s Cathedral.

As part of her new responsibilities, she will have the chance to speak out in support of Bermuda?s Portuguese community and represent the pageant in the May 24 and Christmas parades.

Asked about the reality facing Bermudian teens, Miss Pitcher said drugs, sex and dropping out of school posed major dangers, but these could be combated by Church-sponsored youth groups, like the one she attends as a young apostle.

She advocated bringing teens together in a fun environment where they could also contemplate God?s role in their lives.

Home Affairs Minister Randy Horton, who attended the City Hall pageant, said Miss Pitcher and the other four semi-finalists proved themselves to be role models.

Miss Warwick, Takara Burgess, 15, was the first runner-up, followed by Miss Sandys, Rochelle Minors, 14, who was also named Miss Photogenic. The third runner-up was Miss Smith?s West Dwanae Simmons,15, who was also Miss Congeniality. Fourth runner-up was Miss Pembroke South Keisha Pough,15.

Sixteen-year-old LaToya Brangman won a special title as Miss Talent for her religious rap.