URI student crowned Miss Massachusetts

LAKEVILLE, Mass. (WPRI) - A University of Rhode Island student will represent Massachusetts at next year's Miss America pageant.

Taylor Kinzler, 20, of Lakeville, was crowned Miss Massachusetts at the Hanover Theater in Worcester Saturday night.

Kinzler is a journalism student at URI, as well as an intern at WPRI 12. She works as a staff reporter for GoRhody.com and the school's athletic website. She's a graduate of Apponequet Regional High School.

Kinzler first became involved with the Miss America organization in 2008, when she won Miss Massachusetts Outstanding Teen and represented the Bay State in the national pageant.

At Saturday's pageant she showcased her acrobatic dance skills during the talent portion.

Her platform, titled "Give the Gift of You! Volunteer", is a program she started four years ago in conjunction with the United Way. She developed an online volunteer resource program that seeks to inspire Massachusetts teens to give back to their community. She also founded the Kinzler Scholarship four years ago, which rewards a high school senior for making a difference in their city or town.

She will now go on to compete in the 2013 Miss America Pageant  in January.