CBS 19 - The Eye of East Texas News - Miss Longview! Miss Texas! Miss America?

Miss Longview! Miss Texas! Miss America?

By Lisa Spooner

It's almost as American as apple pie.

We're talking about the Miss America Pageant.

Now meet the young lady chosen to represent the Lone Star State this year.

For years, many little girls have dreamed of walking down that runway with that crown on their heads after just being named the new Miss America.

For 2 years in a row, the young lady chosen to represent longview will have a shot at turning that dream into reality.

You wouldn't think to look at her now... but this beauty queen hasn't always worn high heels and makeup.

"I grew up on a cattle ranch outside of Buffalo, Texas. I was very much a tomboy. Very much outside all the time. I was involved in 4H and I raised swine as my 4H project," said Rebecca Robinson, Miss Texas 2008.

Back in December, Rebecca Robinson was crowned Miss Longview.

When asked why she wanted to compete in the Mis Longview pageant:  "Longview's an east texas town and I am an east texas girl.  I'm from Buffalo, not from Longview, but East Texas is certainly in my background and roots and family and so I kind of wanted it to be an area that I had a lot of familiarity with, " she responded.

She went on to say, "I get that question a lot and I always explain that it's sort of like a politician who's elected to represent a certain area.  By the same token, a titleholder is chosen by a panel of judges to represent that town and I made a very good point as Miss Longview to be involved in the community."

Then, Rebecca took it a step further.

In early July, she earned the title of Miss Texas.

But, it wouldn't bet her first state title.

In 2000, Rebecca was crowned Miss Teen Texas... an experience she says will serve her well, in her year to come.

She said, "I traveled while I was still in high school all through out the state on a speaking tour and talking to kids and it really matured me a lot and allowed me to see a lot of people from different walks of life.  I think both of those are things that are going to help me in being Miss Texas this year."

And now that the state competition is over, Rebecca has her sights set on an even bigger prize.

"It's going to be a wild schedule because Miss America's in January, obviously, and then I'll spend a month in L.A. from September 10th to October 10th filming the Miss America reality show and I'm going to be juggling my schedule as Miss Texas traveling around," said the 24 year old Texas A&M graduate.

And Rebecca offers something else unique to the Miss Texas title.

"Si. Es correcto que sola primera bilingua Miss Texas.  That's part of my criteria that I offer if the school prefers the program to be in Spanish, 'Yo puedo dar lo completamente en espanol.'  I can give it completely in Spanish.  And I think that's a very exciting thing and I'm excited to be able to offer that as an option to schools across Texas."

For more information on Miss Texas, visit the website, www.misstexas.org.

The Miss America Pageant will be held in Las Vegas this January.

And from all of us here at CBS 19, we wish Rebecca the best of luck.