Miss Teen Hawaii USA 2004, Kaua‘i High School graduate Sonya Balmores, is in Palm Springs, Calif., preparing to participate in the Miss Teen USA pageant set for Friday, Aug. 6. It will be aired at 8 p.m. on NBC, channel
Miss Teen Hawaii USA 2004, Kaua‘i High School graduate Sonya Balmores, is in Palm Springs, Calif., preparing to participate in the Miss Teen USA pageant set for Friday, Aug. 6.
It will be aired at 8 p.m. on NBC, channel 8.
Before that, though, she has had a busy summer, completing national commercial campaigns for Nike, Target, Macy’s and Billabong.
She is one of the most popular teen models in Hawai‘i, and an honor student who graduated this year with a grade point average of 3.9.
Balmores, 17, swept the interview, swimsuit and evening gown competitions on her way to being crowned the 2004 Miss Hawaii Teen USA on O‘ahu earlier this year.
She has accepted a full academic scholarship to attend Hawaii Pacific University on O‘ahu this fall. She is a member of Minei Oliver’s Tahitian dance troupe Urahutia.
She is the daughter of Malana DeSilva and Abraham Balmores.
DeSilva, who is married to Ernest DeSilva, is general manager of the Kauai Coconut Coast Resort at the Beachboy in Waipouli.
Abraham Balmores works at Kiahuna Plantation, and is married to Shelagh Balmores.
They all live in Kalaheo.
Besides the 50 other contestants at the national pageant, Balmores will share the stage with recording artists Brandy and JC Chasez, formerly of ‘N Sync.
Miss Teen USA 1998 Vanessa Minnillo, host of MTV’s “Total Request Live (TRL),” and “Access Hollywood” correspondent Tony Potts, co-host the event.
Tami Farrell, Miss Teen USA 2003, will crown her successor at the conclusion of the two-hour primetime telecast.
Each contestant from all 50 states and the District of Columbia will be judged in three categories: swimsuit, evening gown and interview. This Friday’s event marks the 53rd annual competition.