Miss Texas Teen Karlie Hay crowned Miss Teen USA 2016!

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Miss America vs Bikinis: Should They Ban the Swimsuit Competition?

Congratulations to Miss Texas Teen Karlie Hay!

The 18-year-old beat out 50 other contestants to win the title of Miss Teen USA 2016!

WATCH: Miss District of Columbia Deshauna Barber Crowned Miss USA 2016!

Hay was crowned winner of the competition on Saturday, at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Miss Alabama was crowned photogenic winner, and Miss Rhode Island won Miss Congeniality.

Hay, who hopes to attend in Texas A&M University, hopes to use her newfound fame to serve as an advocate of the effects of alcoholism and drug abuse.

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According to her bio on the Miss Teen USA website, "her own childhood experiences have engendered great empathy for children growing up in unstable environments and for the families of alcoholics."

The Tomball, Texas native also enjoys being a regular teen, serving as varsity cheer capitan, yearbook editor, and photographer at her high school.

Hay performed well in all aspects of the competition, including personality, evening wear, and activewear.

Miss Universe Organization

This was the first year the competition included an activewear portion, replacing the former swimsuit competition. The contestants wore Tapout X Goldsheep Activewear, the official training apparel of the WWE.

Total Divas star Eva Marie was on the competition's judging panel, along with former Miss Teen USA Hilary Cruz, Style Studio founder Keylee Sanders, former Miss USA Lu Parker and musician Savannah Keyes.

Miss Universe Organization

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The judges jokingly stalled in announcing Hay's name as the winner as a reference to Steve Harvey's infamous Miss Universe flub.

See former Miss USA Shanna Moakler's reaction to the mistake heard round the world in the video below.

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EXCLUSIVE: Shanna Moakler Thinks It's 'Inappropriate' For Miss Colombia To Call Herself Miss Universe


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