Photos for Headline Surfer / Edgewater gal Tia McDonald has reason to smile these days. She's travelled more in the last few years than whole scores of people do in a lifetime -- from Canada to the Bahamas and Las Vegas for pageants, surfer magazine covers and even an MTV Music video shoot in Hollywood. McDonald poses with the Jonas Brothers, at far left, and with Miley Cyrus and the rest of the Hannah Montanah cast, minus Billy Ray Cyrus.
EDGEWATER, Fla. -- They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but not when it comes to the pageantry career of Tia McDonald, the 18-year-old Miss Teen Florida pageant winner, who competed for the national crown in Las Vegas.
McDonald finished eighth in the Miss Teen United States pageant held July 7-15. The winner was "Miss Virginia" Ashley Greensield, but McDonald isn't unhappy about the results. After all, she had a great time.
"I learned that it is what it is," McDonald said of the national pageant. "I did my best and couldn't fix or change anything I did, and came out of this experience with a lot of friends who are all great girls, and a feeling of achievement because any of us could have made top eight and I was thankful that I did."
Tia McDonald with her mom, Dawn McDonald, a registered nurse, who has raised her as a single mother.
"I learned that it is what it is," McDonald said of the national pageant. "I did my best and couldn't fix or change anything I did, and came out of this experience with a lot of friends who are all great girls, and a feeling of achievement because any of us could have made top eight and I was thankful that I did."
Tia McDonald poses with stars like Holly Madison of the "Girls Next Door" TV fame, NBA star Vince Carter and NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr.
McDonald, who graduated with high honors from New Smyrna Beach High School in May, won the Miss Teen Florida contest earlier that month, which paved the way for her to go to the national competition.
"I just want to say how appreciative and honored I am to represent Florida in Miss Teen United States," McDonald said, having previously earned titles of Miss Teen Hawaiian Tropic, Miss Teen Saint in Daytona Beach, Miss Spring Break 2011 in Daytona Beach, Teen Canada Swimsuit International in the Bahamas and countless others.
"I have worked so hard to achieve this prestigious title, and I couldn't be happier," she said. "This is a pageant with a purpose and I'd just like to state that I've raised over $68,000 for people with special needs, and have raised money to buy several cars for people in need, as well as founded many programs to better our community."
New Smyrna Beach Realtor Tom Alcorn poses with Tia Winn McDonald near the South Causeway Bridge along the Intracoastal Waterway. Alcorn served as a mentor to McDonald between her winning Miss Florida on May 1 and her national pageant showing in Las Vegas earlier this month.
"I have worked so hard to achieve this prestigious title, and I couldn't be happier," she said. "This is a pageant with a purpose and I'd just like to state that I've raised over $68,000 for people with special needs, and have raised money to buy several cars for people in need, as well as founded many programs to better our community."
Tia McDonald is popular with Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson and on the air with WSBB AM radio in New Smyrna Beach. She also poses with the Boys and Girls Club of Edgewater, which is one of her charities.
Along the way, McDonald has gotten to travel and meet famous people like Miley Cyrus of Hannah Montana, the Jonas Brothers, NBA star Vince Carter and others. McDonald has been featured on the covers of several surfer magazines, starred in an MTV video and travelled to Europe.
So what's next for this local gal?
"I'm going to California on Tuesday for the X Games," she said, and then it's on to Huntington Beach, Calif., for the U.S. Open Surfing Championships.
Oh, and yes, she's already enrolled in college at Daytona State, taking a series of online classes as well asa math class. She wants to earn an undergraduate degree in business management and then pursue a masters in the same field.
So what she did she have to say for herself with her hectic schedule? "I've just been having an amazing adventure and enjoying it," McDonald answered.
Photo by Joseph Pier / Tia Winn McDonald stands second from the left in the Miss Teen United States Pageant in Las Vegas.