With a habit of 14,000 texts per month, Kate Moore might have considered entering text rehab (if such a thing existed). Instead, the 15-year-old from Des Moines, Iowa, entered the LG U.S. National Texting Championship and walked home with $50,000.
It’s hard to fathom how Moore finds time to attend school, maintain good grades, socialize and even act in the school play. On any given day Moore sends 400 to 470 messages. And, although teachers occasionally confiscate her phone, she insists all this thumb action doesn’t interfere.
In fact, she tells the Associated Press that texting helps her with her schoolwork. She studies for exams with friends, a task better done by text because she can look back to review the messages.
Moore beat out 22 finalists in New York City, mastering challenges like texting while blindfolded and while moving through an obstacle course. She clinched the title after out-performing Morgan Dynda of Savannah, Ga., by completing three mistake-free, grammatically correct messages. Sometimes being a junkie pays.