===1998–2007===Minnillo was crowned Miss South Carolina Teen USA and went on to win the title Miss Teen USA in 1998, the first Miss Teen USA from South Carolina and also the first from South Carolina to be named the pageant's Miss Congeniality.
Она выиграла конкурс "Miss South Carolina Teen USA", а через два года, 17 августа 1998 года, — "Miss Teen USA", став первым победителем от Южной Каролины.