From a Small Town to Sashes and Crowns: How It All Started

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When you think of Miss America, what comes to mind? Makeup? Fancy Dresses? Crowns and Sashes?

Okay, that's a fair assumption.

But what if I told you it encompassed far more than that? Sure, the stage is full of gorgeous women in fancy gowns, stunning makeup, and a very important woman in a brand new sparkly crown and sash, but how did they get there? What do I have in common with thousands of young women across the United States? Well, let's talk about that!

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I grew up in a small town right outside of Louisville, Kentucky called Jeffersonville. Ever since I was a little girl, I have always watched in awe as young women compete for the local title of Miss Harvest Homecoming. Though I was always amazed by the candidates, I constantly told myself I'd never be one. I was too tall, too chubby, and nowhere near as confident as the girls I saw onstage.

So I counted myself out for eight years.

I spent those eight years as a stagehand for the competition, watching in awe, beating myself up, and getting ready to watch again the next year. Clearly, that was a dangerous cycle.

All of that changed at Miss Harvest Homecoming in 2021. The reigning Miss Indiana, Braxton Kennedy Hiser, asked me, "Hey, are you competing today?"

I blurted out with a nervous laugh, "Hell no! I just run the microphone on and off-stage."

At this point I was absolutely mortified, but Braxton simply sat down next to me, took my hand, and said, "Why not? What is stopping you?"

After dumping all of my insecurities out to a complete stranger, as one does, Braxton helped me complete the paperwork for my first ever local Miss America Organization pageant.

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Fast forward a year, and here I am now, writing this blog. Since that day, I went on to be crowned Miss Spirit of Indiana 2022, competed at Miss Indiana for the first time, and am now holding the title I said I was never worthy of having, Miss Harvest Homecoming.

So now we circle back to what I have in common with thousands of women across the United States; I’m part of the Miss America Organization. Do I wear beautiful dresses and wear makeup? Absolutely! But through this organization, I’ve found a confidence I never thought I’d embrace, an initiative that I created and work tirelessly to promote, and a family as deeply rooted and full of love as any other.

So, when you think about Miss America, think about this. Any young woman can be Miss America as long as she’s dedicated to her community, her education, and most importantly, herself.

After all, the Miss America Org.’s mission is…

“To prepare great women for the world, and to prepare the world for great women.”