A 15-year-old beauty queen will be the first to represent the Island in a prestigious Caribbean pageant.

Alexa Lightbourne, the newly crowned Miss Teen Bermuda will travel to St. Kitts to compete in the Miss Caribbean Talented Teen Pageant on December 29.

"I am extremely excited to represent Bermuda internationally because I feel I will represent the Island well and have a good chance in placing," she said.

Miss Lightbourne was crowned on Sunday night after beating out nine other contestants — including Zaire Lowe, Jessica Richardson, Shadre Steede, Capri Wilson, Jacree Smith, Daniela D'Amato, Taniece Edmead, Angela Dickinson and Allantae Basden.

Miss Lightbourne admitted the experience was surreal, and said: "I am still in disbelief that it is me that is Miss Teen Bermuda but I feel this is my opportunity to shine, shine to my peers, shine to my family and to my community. It's been a great experience for me to showcase my talent as well as to show Bermuda that young women can represent themselves well."

The pageant queen used her platform speech to discus the importance of respect and hopes to spend the year teaching youth the value of respecting themselves, each other and their community. "I hope to implement in young people that we have to respect others and in turn we will receive respect. And teach them how to take responsibility for the community so that the future generation can follow in our footsteps," she said.

Miss Lightbourne, who represented Devonshire in the pageant, was also the runner up in the talent portion of the competition and has been playing the piano for 11 years, the violin for seven years and the saxophone for close to a year.

She also won the title of Miss Teen Sweet Charity for her volunteer work over the years, including playing music at the annual Senior's Tea event.

In addition to the trip to St. Kitts, Miss Lightbourne won a host of other prizes including a membership to the Olympic Club, a ladies watch from Crissons and a cell phone from Cellular One. She, however, admits that the most important gift from this competition is improved self-confidence.

She said: "I just feel greater inner confidence in myself. I know I can do anything I put my mind to and I am going to be a great example to my peers.

"I am proud to represent Bermuda locally and internationally."