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Miss Teen Bay Area USA Jadym Diem was influenced to compete by her mother, Cristin Johnson, who had boosted her own self-esteem by participating in pageants and felt the experience would do the same for her daughter, who was being bullied by other youths.
Miss Teen Bay Area USA Jadym Diem was influenced to compete by her mother, Cristin Johnson, who had boosted her own self-esteem by participating in pageants and felt the experience would do the same for her
Photo: Kirk Sides / Staff Photographer
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Miss Teen Bay Area USA Jadym Diem was influenced to compete by her mother, Cristin Johnson, who had boosted her own self-esteem by participating in pageants and felt the experience would do the same for her daughter, who was being bullied by other youths.
Miss Teen Bay Area USA Jadym Diem was influenced to compete by her mother, Cristin Johnson, who had boosted her own self-esteem by participating in pageants and felt the experience would do the same for her
Photo: Kirk Sides / Staff Photographer
Mother knew best when Cristin O’Bryan Johnson encouraged her daughter, Jadyn Diem, to compete for the title of Miss Texas Teen USA.
Even though Diem didn’t win in 2019, representing League City, the junior at Clear Falls High School is back again this year, as Miss Teen Bay Area USA, for the state pageant that will be held Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 in Houston.
“The fact that she hit the stage with such confidence made her a winner,” said Johnson. “She said, ‘I’m young; I will be back next year,’ and here she is. She looks and sounds and holds herself as a young, confident woman.”
In contrast, Diem lacked confidence before competing in pageants, which matched the experience of her mother years before.
“I lost my mom at the age of 4,” said Johnson, who grew up in west Texas but moved to League City when she was 14. “Even though someone takes guardianship of you, there is still a void. I was 17 when someone told me I should enter pageants to start a platform.”
As Miss Teen League City in a different pageant system than USA, Johnson gathered other survivors for a support group at her home. Through the group, she met Ian Diem of Seabrook, who would become Jadyn’s father.
“He lost his father at the age of 2,” said Johnson, who placed as third runner-up at her state pageant in Houston.
“Competing in pageants taught me confidence, leadership and skills in public speaking,” said Johnson, a cost analyst who graduated from Clear Creek High School in 2003. “With the speaking skills I learned, every interview I’ve ever had, I’ve always been offered the job.”
Diem said her mother felt that her own success in pageants might jump start Diem out of a downward spiral she was experiencing in school, when her straight A grades fell after some kids bullied her. For example, they compared her looks to that of Lola, a gold-digging villainess, who was voiced by Angelina Jolie in a 2004 animated film, Shark Tale.
“I saw this beautiful girl who had just lost herself,” Johnson said of her daughter. “She would let these ‘mean girls’ get to her, but now she has a voice. She removes herself from relationships that are toxic and unhealthy.”
Johnson admits that her plan could have backfired if Diem’s fellow contestants had tried to tear her down, but Diem said that wasn’t the case.
Last year’s pageant, she said, “was a really fun learning experience. My favorite part was meeting the other girls and being in that environment of like-minded girls.”
The pageant brings together dozens of teenage girls from across the state for a weekend of fun and competition at the Hilton Houston Post Oak Hotel, said Diem.
Categories include interview, fitness and evening gown modeling.
During the preliminary show, at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, each contestant will be judged in fitness attire and evening gown, with winners announced for the top vote-getters in photogenic and fitness categories.
In the finals, the next day at 2 p.m., 16 semifinalists will compete in fitness and gown. Five finalists will be selected, then the winner will be chosen to succeed the reigning queen, Kennedy Edwards, who competed last year as Miss Teen Houston USA.
Taylor Kessler, Miss Texas USA 2020, will co-host the show with pageant personality Albert Soliz.
Miss Congeniality will be chosen by her fellow contestants.
The People’s Choice Award will allow fans to vote for their favorite contestant — $1 per vote — with each donation benefiting the Texas Wounded Warrior Foundation. The People’s Choice Award winner will automatically advance to the semifinals.
The new Miss Texas Teen USA 2020 will claim a prize package that includes jewelry, travel, wardrobe items and the honor of representing the Lone Star State at Miss Teen USA.
Tickets can purchase at www.MissTexasUSA.com.
For further details, call 281-493-4100.
Don Maines is a freelance writer who can be contacted at donmaines@att.net