 November/December 2000 (XXXVIII 5) |
uakerism has basically shaped who I am today." says Jillian Parry, Miss Teen USA® 2000. "It has been a big impact on my values and belief system."
Jillian, 18, attended First-day School at Middletown Meeting in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, where her father is a member and the rest of her family attenders. She still goes to meeting for worship there sometimes.
As Miss Teen USA she will visit schools to speak in support of drug abuse awareness and education as the national spokesperson for the organization D.A.R.E.
She also wants to work against leukemia, which took the life of a friend recently. And there are other charity appearances arranged by the Miss Universe Organization. During visits to New York City, she has the use of a three-bedroom apartment shared with Miss Universe® and Miss USA®.
How does she reconcile the apparent glamour of being Miss Teen USA with the simplicity of Quakerism? "The simplicity is inside me," she says, and that's what matters. "I can use my beliefs and where I come from to spread that as Miss Teen USA." If the subject comes up, Jillian tells people that she is a Quaker.
Miss Teen USA wins a 2000 Pontiac Firebird and Jillian decided to have hers in black rather than red. "I think the car is a little flashy by itself" without being red, she says. She says she's not always recognized as Miss Teen USA in her community, especially when dressed casually in sweatpants.
Jillian was planning to start her freshman year at the University Park campus of The Pennsylvania State University this fall, but switched to Bucks County Community College to simplify her life after winning the Miss Teen USA crown August 26 on CBS television. She's interested in science and genetics. "The [Miss Universe] Organization will help me further my career," says Jillian.
According to her mother, Jillian entered the Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA contest a year ago on a whim and won that title without training or coaching. "It was just Jill, having a good time," said Kathleen Parry.
reported by the editorRegistered trademarks of Miss Universe L.P., LLLP
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:19 AM