Miss Hawaii Teen
USA tries to keep
pidgin at bay

By Tim Ryan
Star-Bulletin

Tobie Pohaikealoha Carter, Miss Hawaii Teen USA, has learned that beauty is lots more than swimsuits and high heels.

Since winning the crown in November, Carter, 17, of Hilo, has been training for the Aug. 17 pageant in Shreveport-Bossier City, La., learning how to answer questions quickly and cleverly, eliminate some teen-age speech cliches, smooth over her pidgin, and exercise three times a day, a regimen that includes -- gulp -- 800 sit-ups.

"I don't want to be saying 'like,' or 'well' or 'you know,' " Carter said. "It took me a long time to control my 'wells.' "

According to pageant officials, the Miss Teen USA Pageant this year will have a new format which "goes far beyond beauty with a sharp focus on the intelligence and individuality of the delegates." The emphasis will be on the contestant's personal best, individual pursuit of goals, contribution to humanitarian causes and dedication to advancing the interest of all women.

Carter was selected over nine other contestants for Miss Hawaii Teen USA in her first pageant.

"I entered just for fun, to try something new," said the 5-foot-6, 110-pound teen. She clinched her victory with the answer to the question "Besides your parents who is the best role model for a teen." "Brook Lee," she said.

"She entered several pageants and had lots of set backs but she kept on going. She persevered and that's a good lesson for anyone, especially teens. If you have a goal go for it."

Carter will do what Lee did to win the Miss Universe title: "Be yourself."

"It'll be hard to just talk to someone on stage like I've known them my whole life but being yourself is the best advice I could have."

Carter's father is a police captain in Hilo; her mother is a laboratory supervisor at a local hospital.

It's taken her two older brothers -- 28 and 25 -- "a long time" to realize they're baby sister is a beauty queen, Carter said. As for boys she knows on Big Island, Carter said "Some guys are a lot friendlier now."

In the last few months Carter has stepped up her training regiment and has dropped 10 pounds because "the camera puts 10-15 pounds on you."

As for those 800 sit-ups, Carter says she does them all in one session and is working hard to be able to do 10 "Seabee" push ups like Demi Moore in "G.I. Jane."

Win or lose, Carter plans to attend college in Hawaii to study nursing.