Miss Teen United States, Courtney Turner!

Valerie talks with Miss Teen United States, Courtney Turner. Courtney shares her winning tips for teens who want to work their way up to the big pageant competitions. She also talks about the value of coaching.

Bonnie Hubert, Mrs. Texas International!

Bonnie Hubert tells Valerie the inspiring story of her rapid rise to Mrs. Texas International. She explains the creative ways she raised money to support her pageant activities.

Ask Valerie!

Valerie answers email questions, including whether directors and contestants should be concerned about photos being included on pageant web sites.

Courtney Turner

Courtney Hope Turner is a Sophmore at the University of South Carolina majoring in Multimedia and Communications. With her degree she plans to work with organizations that help stop Human Trafficking. She has started her own organization called H.O.P.E., Helping Open People\'s Eyes, which helps create awareness and raise funds for her cause. She is an athlete, as well as a dancer; competing in tennis, swimming, soccer, and ballroom dance. She loves spending time with her family of 8 going camping, hiking, and even skydiving. Courtney is passionate about making a difference wherever she goes and touching the lives of everyone she meets. Her favorite volunteer activities include: Queen for A Day, serving at the Salvation Army, visiting hospitals and elderly homes, Community work, and she has even been to Kenya, Africa for missions. She describes her reign this year to be full of surprises because the Lord is leading her and the crown to where He has destined. Her advice to others is to \'never give up on any of your dreams, pursue them will all of your heart!\'

Click here for more about Courtney Turner

Bonnie Hubert

Bonnie Hubert was crowned Mrs. Texas International 2009 on March 22, 2009 at the beautiful Scottish Rite Auditorium in San Antonio, Texas.
Bonnie, 33, is married to Skeeter Hubert, managing partner of High Point Financial Group, and is the mother of three beautiful children: Olivia, Blake and Kyle. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Sam Houston State University in 1997 with a B.A. in Education and a specialization in Spanish. She went on to obtain her Masters of Arts in counseling from Texas Southern University in 2002. She obtained her Texas professional counselor licensure in 2007. Bonnie has worked as a bilingual teacher, school counselor, therapist in private practice and now as the Crisis Intervention Specialist for the Conroe Independent School District. Bonnie is active in a variety of volunteer activities and firmly believes in the contributions we can each make through service work in our communities. Her bilingual skills (English/Spanish) help her reach across cultural divisions and bring helpful services to those whose needs might otherwise go unmet. Bonnie’s primary focus of community service is her role as a spokesperson for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). CASA’s mission is to support and promote court-appointed volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children so that they can thrive in safe, permanent homes. Approximately 500,000 children in the United States are caught up in the court and child welfare maze because they are unable to live safely at home. For many abused children, their CASA volunteer will be the one constant adult presence in their life - the one adult who cares only for them. Approximately 60,000 CASA volunteers serve more than 240,000 abused and neglected children through 954 program offices in the United States. Bonnie’s goal is to help CASA increase the number of child advocates locally, across the state and throughout the nation so that every child who needs a CASA will have one.

Click Here to Visit Her Website