by MIKE CHAIKEN
Family and friends gathered around Haylee Patton at the Grand Oak Villa in Watertown Sunday, Aug. 23 to wish her well as she heads off to Orlando, Fla. to represent Connecticut at the Miss America’s Teen competition.
Patton, who won the Miss Connecticut’s Teen crown in June, begins competing for the national title with preliminaries on Tuesday, Sept. 2. The finals will be held Saturday, Sept. 6.
Patton offered up a laundry list of thank yous to those who gathered at the banquet hall.
“You have no idea how much you all mean to me,” said Patton. “Going to Miss America’s Teen has been the biggest dream of mine and what better way to celebrate than with you.”
Patton singled out “the people who made it all possible, mom and dad (Marcus and Tracey Patton). You’ve always being there for me, no matter what.”
Not only was Patton surrounded by family and friends from the Miss Connecticut Scholarship Organization, she was surrounded by her peers. Patton, who dances at Triple Threat Dance Company in Wolcott, spent a good amount of time on the dance floor with her fellow dancers, having a blast.
To her dancer friends, Patton said, “Thank you for making sure I have a friend to lean on and spend time with when things get hard, especially during Miss America prep.”
Patton said, “I’m so excited to make more memories especially at Miss America.”
Patton maintained one of the great traditions of the Miss Connecticut family send-offs. She offered the paying guests a sneak peek of her wardrobe for the national event. However, guests were asked to hold off on posting photographs until after the competition. The goal was to give the judges the first “true” look at the wardrobe.
Patton’s wardrobe earned plenty of applause, the loudest reserved for her gown.
Bought at Henri’s in Ohio, Patton was said to have fallen in love with it immediately.
Patton also showed her talent costume. She will be dancing at Miss America’s Teen. She also showed the outfit she will wear for her private interview with the judges.
PHOTOS by MIKE CHAIKEN
