Miss Teen USA Tami Farrell talks about her struggle to transition from beauty queen to A-list actress

I used to think as I looked at the Hollywood night, "There must be thousands of girls sitting alone like me, dreaming of becoming a movie star. But I'm not going to worry about them. I'm dreaming the hardest." - Marilyn Monroe

Like many little girls, my favorite toys were Barbie dolls, and my Barbies were always supermodels, singers, and actresses. I would roll out a red sock as my red carpet, and my Barbie would climb to the top of my pink-and-green cassette player. With all eyes on me, I would begin a live concert with the help of Amy Grant or Mariah Carey - whichever tape happened to be in my cassette player at the time.

I dreamed big. And while I could make Barbie a star with a sock and a cassette tape, the reality of what I'd have to go through to obtain the star lifestyle was far from my thoughts. Back then, my only concern was what was happening in those brief moments of my adolescent youth. But I knew deep in my heart that I would someday make my childhood dreams a reality.

Growing up in a small Oregon town, I was challenged by the idea of discovering what the world outside had to offer. While in elementary and middle school, I was approached by several modeling agents from New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle. However, my parents held tight to my innocence and rejected their offers. Of course, this only fed my desire to be a star!

When I was 14, I vacationed in California with my best friend. We stayed with her aunt, who worked in advertising. While playing in the ocean, her aunt asked if we would mind modeling some surfing gear to help her pitch an advertising idea. Well, the surfing company loved her marketing pitch... and they also loved me. A few weeks later, I took my first airplane trip to San Diego for my very first modeling job!

Over the next few years of high school, I booked a hair show, two runway shows in San Francisco, an advertisement for a workout bar, and my first commercial. In 2003, I got a taste of celebrity when I won the Miss Teen USA competition. I left my hometown for the bright lights of New York City and quickly learned what it meant to be a "frequent flier."

During my year as Miss Teen USA, I traveled the world as a youth advocate. I walked the runways for New York Fashion Week, mastered the red carpet at premieres and parties, and became friends with celebrities! I signed autographs, made television appearances, and helped raise over $21 million for charity. I was trained by one of the most amazing acting schools in New York, and was blessed to get to record for the first time with a music master. I lived that entire year in a dream.

Once my reign ended in 2004, my dreams carried me from New York to California, and I settled in Hollywood to continue pursuing my dreams.

The thing about dreams is that you eventually have to wake up...

To read about Tami's struggle to become an actress in Hollywood, don't miss From Model to Actress: Coming Down to Earth!

Tami Farrell, a native of Phoenix, Oregon, was crowned Miss Teen USA in 2003, and also was honored to be voted Miss Congeniality by her fellow delegates. During her reign, Tami set a record for Teen USA titleholders in raising more than $21 million for charity. She continues her volunteer work as a national spokesperson for the American Heart Association and The Sparrow Club.

See the original article at Pageantry Magazine: Waiting in the Wings

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