I had such an incredible week at Miss Arkansas 2023! This week was so surreal for so many reasons. Competing for the Miss title after being in the Teen program a full decade prior, being back on the very first stage I had ever performed on 23 years later at Robinson Center, and stepping back onstage after four years away made my anticipation for the week so joyful.
Kicking off the week with the arrival ceremony at the state capital building was so special! I have always wanted my picture taken in front of the beautiful gold doors, and it was a blast getting to officially kick off the week with my teen queen, Addison.
That evening, we had the second annual casino night benefitting the Miss Arkansas Scholarship Foundation! We danced and danced, cheered on the guests as they played cards, and even got to try our hand at blackjack! My dad taught me how to play when I was young, so I had fun showing my fellow contestants how to “make the big bucks!”
The next morning, I interviewed with the judges! Being able to share my heart for higher education access and reform, my desire to serve as Miss Arkansas, and my views on some major issues facing our country was so exciting for me. I later learned that I was named the Alpha (newcomer) private interview winner for my group which was an incredible honor!!!
I had some precious quality time with my Diamond State Princess, Janna, throughout the week! We had fun putting on our best luau gear for a party; we nibbled on some CFA nuggets and made some new friends with our princesses and queens. We had got to walk out together for a Princess Arrival in our best hot pink gear (we were ready for the Barbie premiere!!!) Janna celebrated her birthday on the first day of onstage competition, so I got to make sure she was decked out in birthday gear for rehearsals 🙂 She joined me onstage for my evening gown walk which was so special. Pouring into Janna and being uplifted by her sweet personality was a highlight of the week! I value mentorship so much, and this is one of my favorite aspects of the Miss America Opportunity.
From rehearsals to CPR training with the American Heart Association to a tour of the Miss Arkansas gown exhibit, it was a busy few days at the start of the week leading up to competition! I had a blast with the girls competing with me and really enjoyed this more relaxed time to get to know them and enjoy the week. I was truly soaking it all in!
Onstage competition kicked off on Tuesday, and the week FLEW BY from there! I competed in evening gown on Tuesday, talent on Wednesday, and fitness and onstage conversation on Thursday. Being named the Alpha and Overall Gown winner and the Alpha and Overall Fitness winner along with the Alpha Private Interview winner for the Mu group was so unexpected and such an honor!!!! I had the time of my life being on that stage each night. There is no feeling quite like being on the pageant stage knowing you worked hard for the moment to share who you are and why you are ready to be a titleholder. I will cherish these memories for a lonngggg time <3
I love to pick a word and a color for the year, and red and bold were mine for 2023 before I even decided to compete again! When I went gown shopping at the Royal We, I put on a red gown and just knew it was the one for this. Being in my older Miss era, I wanted to be sexy yet elegant, and I think this dress knocked that gown out of the park!
Talent is the phase of competition I have historically felt the most stress about. During my prep, my vow to myself was to focus on accuracy and sharpness, add some new challenging moves, and KEEP HAVING FUN. I had the most fun of any night of the whole week during talent at Miss Arkansas. I felt so unbelievably proud of myself after dancing at age 26 on the same stage I tapped on when I was just 3 years old. This was a really surreal full circle moment, and I got to show the judges that there was “no place I’d rather be” than there at Miss AR!
For the last night of prelims, I did two of my favorite phases: fitness and onstage conversation! Being able to showcase my dedication to exercise and a nourishing diet as well as my commitment to being educated and well-versed on issues facing our country was so cool to do on the same night. Talking about name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals as well as cancel culture with four of my fellow contestants was energizing to me. I was SO happy to be back in the fitness phase of competition after it had been gone since 2018, and receiving the preliminary awards for this phase was icing on the cake to an incredible week of preliminary competition!
One of the best (and sometimes most overwhelming!) parts of the week is the visitation after each night of conversation. Getting to hug the people who came to support, be encouraged by friends and family, and express gratitude for the love people show is really important. #TeamBlair showed up and showed out, and I can’t say how appreciative I was for everyone who came in person and watched online all week long!!!
We had an amazing luncheon at the Governor’s Mansion on Friday! Hearing from inspirational women in leadership in our state was just the grounding thing I needed to remember my “why” as the fatigue of the week set in. I felt reenergized and grateful as the luncheon wrapped. I was so glad my sweet mama could join as my plus one for this sweet time together!
Going into the last night of competition, I knew for sure that there was absolutely nothing more that I could have done to have been more ready for the role or to have showcased that during Miss Arkansas week. I felt so undeniably led to take a huge leap by getting back into the pageant, and I am so proud of myself for trusting my gut and putting myself out there. While I didn’t walk away as Miss Arkansas, I did get to model the fearless pursuit of a dream so much bigger and deeper than yourself, and I wouldn’t change anything about how I showed up. I serve an incredible God who guides my every step, and He was with me in every teeny tiny move forward and in every giant leap taken during this process.
A highlight of the final night was walking onstage with my dad as my male mentor! Shortly after we competed, I was announced as a winner of the KISS Heart Disease Goodbye scholarship. My dad, grandfather, and great grandmother have had stints, bypasses, and open heart surgery respectively, so it was an honor to have my dad with me onstage to showcase my passion for living a heart healthy lifestyle!
Grateful barely scratches the surface when I reflect on my Miss Arkansas experience. Proverbs 3:5-6 guided my journey from deciding to compete in my local until the last minute onstage. My motto for the week was what is for you will never pass you by. The best is yet to come! <3
