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A spirit that is not afraid

Auburn student represents Alabama in Miss Teen USA

Champion will be competing in Miss Teen USA on Aug. 1 (Contributed by Sarah-Baskin Champion)
Champion will be competing in Miss Teen USA on Aug. 1 (Contributed by Sarah-Baskin Champion)

Sarah-Baskin Champion did not grow up a pageant girl. Baskin, Miss Alabama Teen USA 2014, was a self-proclaimed introvert, something her mother, Laura Champion, said she agreed with.
"She's naturally just a very quiet, shyer person," Laura said.
Baskin, sophomore in apparel design, competed in her first pageant at Miss Alabama Teen USA 2013 after Paula Miles, director of the Miss Alabama Teen USA pageant, recruited her.
"She had a very unique look, a great personality, was cute and bubbly and personified exactly what we thought a Miss Alabama Teen USA would be," Miles said.
Baskin said she wanted to get out of her comfort zone and become comfortable around strangers, something she said the pageant taught her.
"Since she has gotten involved in the teen program, she has just blossomed," Laura said.
In Miss Alabama Teen USA 2013, she won Miss Congeniality, Most Photogenic and placed 4th runner-up overall.
In 2014, the crown was hers.
As Miss Alabama Teen USA, Baskin has spoken at programs, volunteered at aTeam Ministries, which supports children diagnosed with cancer and participated in a walk for Crohn's disease and Colitis. She also had opportunities to model; an interest of Baskin's before her involvement in pageants.
Baskin, the second of four children, has traveled around the world on medical missions with her father, Greg Champion, a doctor, and cites New Zealand, Africa and Israel as her favorite places.
Even though Baskin, whose parents graduated from the University of Alabama, grew up a die-hard Alabama fan, Auburn won her heart.
"I just love the small town feel of Auburn," she said.
Baskin said she had close friends at Auburn, loved Auburn's conservative values and knew the apparel design program was nationally ranked.
Baskin convinced her older brother, Josh Champion, junior in marketing, to transfer from Alabama to Auburn in 2013. Baskin's sister Abby Grace plans to join her on the Plains in 2015. Her favorite Auburn memory was the 2013 Iron Bowl because, not only did Auburn have a last-second victory, she was introduced on the field as Miss Alabama Teen USA.
When she is not competing, Baskin loves hiking at Chewacla State Park and water sports. At the Miss USA 2014 competition in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she met business tycoon Donald Trump, owner of the Miss Universe Organization.
According to Miles, before competing at the state pageant, contestants complete an application and interview. They are then awarded a title representative of their area. Baskin's title was Miss Vestavia Hills, her hometown.
The Miss Teen USA contestants, representing all 50 states and Washington D.C., compete in swimsuit, evening gown, interview and on-stage question.
This year's Miss Teen USA pageant is in the Bahamas, with preliminaries Aug. 1, and finals Aug. 2 at 7 p.m.
Baskin's parents, siblings, close family friends and several Phi Mu sorority sisters will be on-hand as she competes.
As for her preparations, Baskin said she will work on hair, make-up and review her questionnaire responses before flying out July 28.
"I feel like the reason I'm doing this is so girls can see you don't have to be completely fake to be a pageant girl," Baskin said. "I think it's important to stay true to yourself during pageants."


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