On July 28, Connecticut native, Logan West was crowned Miss Teen USA 2012. Just a few days after a victory, West has been appearing on local media outlets to promote her bully prevention platform. A former victim of bullying, West was often made fun of because she “did not act like her skin color.”

“Being Miss Teen USA will give me the opportunity to educate students about bullying on a national level and share my story.   It wasn’t always easy, but my parents made sure that I learned how to cope with it and ensure that I didn’t stay introverted.  I lost who Logan was when I was being bullied, but I found that participating in pageants helped me find “˜her’ again as well as gain the confidence to be a role model and voice for others.   During my reign, I hope to share with teens the importance of being true to yourself, ” she told MSNBC.

West affirms that being bullied has helped shape her into the person she is today. During her reign as Miss Teen America, she plans to speak out against bullying and partner with organizations, such as D.A.R.E, in educating teachers, students, and parents on the issue. On July 31, West spoke to Fox News about her recent victory and previous battle with bullies.