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WHITE HAVEN —All eyes will be on Boca Raton, Florida, July 11-16 when borough resident Courtney Dornheim competes for the title of USA National Teen.
Dornheim, 18, currently USA National Miss Pennsylvania Teen, will spend a week pitted against the nation’s best in interview, evening gown and a fashion show. Judges for the pageant include Miss America 2015 Kira Kazantsev, Sherri Hill model Angelia Layton, Miss Teen USA 2012 Logan West and Miss Haiti University 2015 Lisa Drouillard.
If she wins, Dornheim will promote the platform of the competition: “The Crown Cares Platform to Prevent Bullying.” The national platform falls in line with her current platform, “Some Bruises are on the Inside – Stop Bullying Now.” Dornheim said her platform hits home hard because she hit “rock bottom” in sixth grade when she was bullied.
“I get to stand up for what I believe in; it’s just a different sash,” she said.
Making a difference in children’s lives makes her continuous busy life worth the effort, Dornheim said, indicating people reach out to her on Instagram after appearances.
“Seeing the reaction on the kids’ faces, it all matters to me,” she said, recounting a time recently at a Pittston Junior Knights hockey game when, after taking a picture with a child, he waved and said, ‘Bye, beautiful.’
Dornheim’s mother, Kim, said her daughter has always had a no bullying message but now that she wears a crown and sash “people listen to her more when her head is shiny.”
Philadelphia born, NEPA raised
Born in the Philadelphia area, Dornheim moved with her family to Northeastern Pennsylvania when she was in sixth grade.
A former dancer, she performed as a Philadelphia Junior Soulmate, dancing for the arena football team, Philadelphia Soul.
The family moved to White Haven and the driving back and forth “took a toll” on mother and daughter, so much so Dornheim had to give it up.
“I miss that,” she said.
Due to injuries, she also had to give up another passion of hers: cheerleading. Headed to Troy University in Alabama in the fall for sports management, Dornheim wanted to cheer in college.
“That broke my heart,” she said of having to leave cheerleading.
Dornheim misses her grandparents and friends and the atmosphere of a “city life.”
“I don’t like how a mall is 30 minutes from me now,” she said.
She enjoys watching her hometown sports teams, the Philadelphia Flyers and Philadelphia Eagles.
“And now I yell at the TV as if I was at the game,” she joked.
What does a queen do for fun?
“Sleep,” Dornheim said, jokingly.
Before going away to college, she tries to spend time with her parents, go out with friends and shop “more than I should.”
She attends a cyber school so she can plan around her schedule.