It would be a dream come true, literally, if Rachel Xing wins Miss New York Teen USA next year.
The 16-year-old from Bayside is entering her first pageant in January to fulfill a possible prophecy her mother had while five months pregnant with her.
“When I was really little, my mom told me she had a dream she would have a girl who would attend a pageant and win,” Xing said. “At the time, she didn’t even know if she was having a boy or girl.”
Her mother, Bo Qian, said she woke up and “knew it would be a girl.” One month later, a doctor confirmed it.
Qian said telling the story multiple times sparked her daughter’s interest in pageants.
“I told her she had to get a good SAT score first,” Qian said. “She studied hard. She wants to do it, and I support her.”
The borough beauty will compete for the preliminary title from January 17 to 19 at Purchase College’s Performing Arts Center. The winner of the contest will represent the state at the national 2014 Miss Teen USA pageant next summer.
“I’m really excited. I can’t wait to see what will happen and what I will learn from the experience,” said Xing “But I’m slightly nervous because I don’t have any experience whatsoever. This is completely new to me.”
The teen said she plans to “look up a million videos on pageants” online, attend etiquette classes, possibly hire a pageant coach and find sponsors to help fund the $1,500 entrance fee.
Xing said the coveted trophy would mean she would be a role model for other girls.
The junior whiz kid has a 4.3 GPA at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School and is an aspiring doctor.
“If she wins, I think it’ll recognize that she can learn many things, not just academically,” Qian said.
The winner of the national competition will spend a year as a teen ambassador.
“I would feel like it would be an honor to represent Bayside and my state,” Xing said.
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