PJETRAJ TAKES SECOND AT MISS TEEN USA PAGEANT

One year after the monumental meltdown of former Miss Teen South Carolina Lauren Caitlin Upton that gained her international notoriety, 18-year-old Brittany Pjetraj of Chapin (above left with Upton) has one-upped her infamous predecessor by nabbing the first runner-up post at this year’s Miss Teen USA pageant.

Upton only placed fourth overall in the 2007 pageant — which is actually quite a feat considering her dedicated demonstration of our worst in the nation public school systems.

Arkansas hottie Stevi Lauren Perry took the title at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in the Bahamas Saturday, while Julia Dalton from North Carolina finished third.

But it was Pjetraj in second place who had the most to overcome. After all, the title of Miss Teen South Carolina has become synonymous with stupidity. Thankfully, she was able to defeat that stereotype.

Her finish was also the best for a Palmetto Stater since Charleston’s Vanessa Minnillo won the Miss Teen USA title in 1998. Minnillo went on to national celebrity as host of MTV’s “Total Request Live” and, most recently, arm candy for boy-bander Nick Lachey.

What I’m getting at here is that Pjetraj could be the third Miss Teen South Carolina to vault on to major fame. Now, if only my charm, wit, and boyish good looks would ever be enough for her.