By Juanita Davis
The Answer Staff Writer

Las Vegas recently named its choice for Miss Teen Las Vegas 2010, and it is quite apparent that it was not only the judges’ choice but God’s as well. 
The story unfolds a lot like the story of Esther in the Bible.  In the Book of Esther, we have the account of a young Hebrew girl, who was orphaned and then adopted by her cousin Mordecai.  After the King of Susa’s wife, Queen Vashti, rebelled against the King (Ahasuerus) he banished her from her duties as Queen and sought another.  Young, beautiful maidens were taken from all over the land, to include the fair and beautiful (Esth. 2:7) Esther. 

After a twelve-month purification process before being presented to the King, Esther’s turn to go before him came.  Out of many beautiful maidens, she is the one who found grace and favor with the King and became the new Queen.  It is quite clear to anyone who has ever read the Book of Esther that what caught King Ahasearus’ eye went deeper than outward beauty.  Esther possessed a quiet and humble spirit, and it is evidenced by the fact that prior to going into the King, she requested nothing except what the King’s eunuch advised.  Because of it, “…Esther obtained favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her” (Esth. 2:15).

Las Vegas has an Esther of its own. Just a few months ago, Patricia Shorter-Barbee received notice of the then-upcoming 2010 Miss Teen Las Vegas Pageant.  She asked her 19-year-old daughter, Natriana (pronounced “Nay-tree-ahna”) Shorter, if she would like to enter the pageant.  Natriana, who had not taken part in a pageant since the age of six, told her mother she would think about it. 

A week later, Natriana gave her mother her answer.  She would enter the pageant, but she was “…not going to just do it.  I’m not in it to lose it, but to win it!”  And taking before the judges only that which was advised – trust in God – she won!  Out of 220 contestants, from all over the land, Natriana was named Miss Teen Las Vegas 2010.  Since the pageant’s inception in 1983, she is the first ever African-American to hold the title; and although that is quite a milestone and is to be celebrated, that is not the highlight of this story. The highlight of it is Natriana’s faith in and her humble disposition toward the Lord God. 

Although it is unsure whether she is the first Christian to ever hold the title, what is sure is that Natriana is sold out for Christ, and she realizes that, “Without Him on my side, I would not be successful.  I have to put Him first.”
When asked how she might relate to Esther, Natriana said that she can relate to her.  Then, overwhelmed by the thought of how God has blessed her throughout her life thus far, through tears she added, “God has shown a lot of favor (to me) in my life, over the years.”  And if at 19, she recognizes God’s grace and favor upon her life,…  It is her mother who keeps God before. 

Shorter-Barbee is a “praying mom, not a pageant mom,” and because of it she has left competing in pageants totally up to Natriana.  With her daughter’s outward beauty always before her, Shorter-Barbee has always prayed for her – praying above all else that Natriana would maintain “a wonderful spirit and walk with the Lord.”  She tells Natriana often, “God made you beautiful for a reason,” with the thought that God will use her beauty for His glory.  That sounds a lot like Cousin Mordecai telling Esther, whose beauty was used as a vehicle to the throne, that she may have been chosen as Queen for a reason – a “for-such-a-time-as-this” reason.

Natriana attends Freshwind Ministries in Las Vegas.  She is also a freshman at Dixie State College (St. George, Utah), where she is a Biology major with plans of becoming a pediatrician.  With the added peer and societal pressures that can come with college life and now a beauty pageant title, Natriana has resolved to stay true to her God.  She is a witness for Him, telling others about Him and how good He has been to her.  She uses not only her newly-attained position of Miss Teen Las Vegas, but her life in general, as a platform to influence others in the way of Christ. 

As for the future, Natriana has plans to compete in future pageants.  “Because I believe that the Lord will lead me to greater places and things (for His glory), this is not the last.”  Natriana plans to compete in the Miss Teen USA Pageant, in June 2010.