By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

CHELSEA – Raven Whitfield describes herself as a tomboy, but after the 5-foot, 8-inch blonde competed in the Miss Chelsea Middle School pageant four years ago, she now shops for ball gowns and practices walking in heels.

“I was in a few (pageants) as a baby, but I quit because I was a tomboy,” Whitfield said.

Whitfield, an upcoming 10th grader at Chelsea High School, first joined the Miss CMS pageant in sixth grade as part of her dance team.

“Once I did it, I realized how much I enjoyed it,” she said. “Who doesn’t like feeling pretty and dressing up?”

She won first alternate and then won princess in seventh grade. In eighth grade, she took home the title.

Whitfield, who lives in the Shelby County portion of Leeds, continued her pageant streak into high school as she won Miss Chelsea High School Pageant Ninth Grade Elite Winner 2012.

Now, Whitfield will compete as Miss Chelsea Teen USA 2013 in the Miss Alabama Teen USA pageant in December.

Brandy Whitfield, Raven’s mother, said she never competed in pageants, but is supporting her daughter.

“It stretches me,” Brandy Whitfield said of pageants. “When I’m having to help her, it gives me strength.”

Raven Whitfield said she would like to be an actress and model.

“But a more realistic dream is a marine biologist,” she said.

Brandy Whitfield said her daughter maintains a 4.1 grade point average and is involved with the Dunnavant Volunteer Fire Department.

“She’s involved in things that aren’t just the pretty things,” Brandy Whitfield said.

Raven Whitfield has already given back to her community as a pageant queen by crowning the winners of a pageant at Shelby Ridge Health and Rehab and reading to children at the Goddard School, both of which are Whitfield’s sponsors.

“It’s overwhelming to see people want to support your child and help her achieve the things she wants to achieve,” Brandy Whitfield said.

For more information, visit the Miss Chelsea Teen USA 2013 Facebook page.