NATCHEZ —Lauren Rymer, a Natchez teen who competed in last weekend’s Miss Teen USA says she will never forget the experience.

One of 51 teens from the states and the District of Columbia — the ultimate winner coming from Texas — competing this past weekend, the 18-year-old from Natchez said being in Las Vegas and getting to walk that stage was a special experience.

“It is something I will have in my heart forever — not everyone gets to live out something like that,” Rymer said. “Walking on that stage for the first time was really incredible. I basically felt like I was on cloud nine.”

Rymer said she was honored to win “Best Dressed.” After all, she said with a laugh, it vindicated all the time she has spent shopping.

“It kind of paid off that I got that award — I love shopping, and I love clothes,” Rymer said. “I love putting different pieces together to have an awesome outfit.

“I like to look good all the time. I want to look my best, but hey, who doesn’t?”

Beyond winning “Best Dressed,” Rymer said the competition meant a great deal to her.

“I learned to stay true to who I am,” she said. “I learned to be confident in who I am and what I chose.

“My dress was different from all of the girls. But I just wanted to go my own way — be me.”

Thanks to the experience, the practices and the time spent in Las Vegas, Rymer said she also built some connections with the other contestants.

“I now have a friend in every state I can go to and talk about anything with,” she said. “My closest friend was Miss Teen New Jersey, Gina Mellish. We are now best friends and we Facetime every day.

“We are already planning trips to see each other.”

Rymer said this week she got to model in Atlanta, and who was there? Mellish.

“We roomed together,” she said. “It is really cool to have someone to talk to about the pageant experience.”

Having a person with whom to talk will come in handy, as Rymer said pageants are in her future. Once she takes a break from it, Rymer said she would give Miss Mississippi USA a whirl, after already having worn the Miss Teen Mississippi USA crown.

“That’s all I have on my radar so far,” she said. “I think I’ll take a break and just work really hard for it.”

Part of that break will include enrolling at Mississippi State University to major in communication and broadcasting.

“I really want to be an anchor for the evening news,” said Rymer, who graduated in the spring from Adams County Christian School. “I also think it would be fun to talk to celebrities about why they wore that particular outfit.”

On Oct. 29, Rymer’s reign as Miss Teen Mississippi USA will be over.

“It is going to be sad,” she said. “But when one door closes, another door opens.

“I’m looking to see what God has for me in the future. I’m ready to take on life.”