HISD student named second runner up at national pageant

Lauren Clemons, a sophomore at Westside High School, was named second runner-up at the Miss Black USA Talented Teen Pageant held in August in Washington D.C.

Clemons is the daughter of Leonard and Lourez Clemons. Her mother works in the Houston Independent School District and her sister, Leah, is a fifth-grader in the district.

She accumulated the highest score in the talent portion of the competition and was named People's Choice by the crowd. At the event, she performed a lyrical dance to the song "Tired." A personal interview and a stage question competition tested her intelligence and thinking skills.

Clemons qualified for the national pageant after winning the Miss Black Texas USA Talented Teen Pageant in 2001.

With nationals finished, she will finish her reign as Miss Black Texas using the platform titled "You Are Beautiful," a program designed to raise girls' self-esteem.

Clemons is active in school, church and community activities, including Jump Start Cheer and Dance Academy, Girl Scouts, Bellaire Dance Academy and Kids In Dance. At school, she is in the French Honor Society, Black Student Union and a member of the dance team.

She has performed in two community plays and is active at Mount Corinth Missionary Baptist Church, where she sings in the choir and dances on the praise team.

To learn more about the Miss Black Texas USA Talented Teen Pageant, visit missblacktexasusa.com. For information on the national competition, visit missblacktalentedteen.org.