Jennifer Monson, the reigning Miss Teen Minnesota, crowns Miss Teen Austin's Zoe Lester Thursday morning in the basement of City Hall. -- Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

Miss Teen Austin 2012 has been officially crowned.

Austin Mayor Tom Stiehm presents the Miss Teen Austin sash to Zoe Lester as the reigning Miss Teen Minnesota holds the crown Thursday in the basement of City Hall.

Mayor Tom Stiehm presented Zoe Lester with her official crown and banner Thursday morning at City Hall. Lester will compete to be Miss Teen Minnesota at the statewide competition in 2012.

“I am so excited to be able to represent Austin in the Miss Teen Minnesota pageant,” she said Thursday.

Each contestant spends their time leading up to the contest doing presentations on their personal platform. Lester has chosen “Stop Diabetes.”

“I really wanted to speak about that because my brother was diagnosed in March,” Lester said. “As Miss Teen Austin, I can let everybody know the risks and the ways we can cure it.”

Lester, the daughter of Tim and Kathy Lester, is a freshman at Lyle Secondary School. Kathy Lester said she and her husband are proud of their daughter.

“It’s the chance of a lifetime,” Kathy said. “She’s really stepped up there. Her and her brother have really been there for her older brother (with diabetes).”

Miss Teen Minnesota 2011, Jennifer Monson, was also at Thursday’s crowning. She has been campaigning to keep kids tobacco-free and has even worked with the state Legislature and governor on dedicating a month to youth tobacco awareness.

Monson said all contestants appear at events for Go Red for Women with the American Heart Association as well as events relating to their personal platforms.

“It’s been a wonderful experience,” she said.