VILLA HILLS - Elvis fanatic Ashley Shearer, the king of Kentucky beauty queens, is headed to Orlando, Fla., to represent the commonwealth in the Miss Teen Coed 2002 competition Thanksgiving week.

        The 18-year-old freshman-to-be at Northern Kentucky University emerged victorious from a field of 80 participants in the Miss Kentucky competition last weekend in Lexington.

        In Orlando, Ms. Shearer says she'll compete against at least 50 contestants, the “best of the best.” The national champion takes home a $25,000 scholarship.

        The weeklong contest will be broken down into several parts for contestants. Ms. Shearer plans to participate in the photogenic contest, which is similar to modeling. The communications major will try her skills in the speech competition, too.

        Competing since her sophomore year of high school, Ms. Shearer was named Miss Liberty USA earlier this year, and Miss Northern Kentucky Teen and Miss Teen Sweetheart Kentucky in 2001. Outside of the pageant circuit, Ms. Shearer collects Elvis Presley memorabilia, participates in water and snow skiing, and volunteers her time to work with children.

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