A Monticello teen captured the first runner-up title in the Miss Mississippi Teen USA competition this weekend.

Addison “Addie” Carver, 16, competed with more than 30 young women for the title.

Carver is the daughter of Dwayne and Kristi Carney and the late Chuck Carver. A sophomore at Lawrence County High School, she is a varsity cheerleader, BETA Club member, Student Council representative, Diamond Doll, and member of the Future Health Professionals (HOSA). Carver was chosen as Freshman Beauty by her classmates; and as Freshman Beauty, Freshman Most Photogenic, Sophomore Beauty and Sophomore Most Photogenic at the Lawrence County Beauty Review. She is a dancer at Show Stoppers Studio of Dance, where she is a member of the national award-winning Competitive Company, as well as a student teacher.

Following the death of her father when Carver was 13, she developed her organization Dance To Empower. She has made it her mission to keep dancing while sharing her love for dance with others and encouraging everyone to find something they are passionate enough about that can help them through whatever they may face in life. Carver is sponsored at the Miss Mississippi Teen USA competition by several area businesses — Expectations Too, Paul Barnett Nissan, Leggett Orthodontics, Hurst Review, Members Exchange Credit Union and Next Studios. The pageant is the official preliminary to the Miss Teen USA pageant. The teen chosen as Miss Mississippi Teen USA will advance to compete in the Miss Teen USA pageant.