What are your Hobbies?
I enjoy dancing, traveling, eating chocolate, reading, and attempting to play golf.
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What makes you special and unique?
I have a passion for dance and working with children. I have been dancing since I was three, and I have developed a deep love and appreciation for dance over the years. As a dance teacher, it brings me great joy to be able to share this passion with children and encourage them to develop a love for dance themselves.
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What is the best advice you have ever received?
My dad has always told me that attitude affects everything you do, and he continuously encourages me to be optimistic. Whenever you face a difficult situation, don’t focus on your obstacles. Instead, concentrate on what you can do to help the situation, and leave the rest in God’s hands.
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Name one thing you cannot live without.
I really need my quiet time in the mornings. Being able to have my personal devotion every morning helps me start the day out on the right foot and keep my priorities in line.
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What's the most valuable lesson you've ever learned?
The most valuable lesson I have learned is that perseverance is the secret to success. Things that are truly worth having do not necessarily come easily, and you cannot give up when obstacles appear to block your path. It is in overcoming those obstacles and continuing to believe in yourself that you truly experience growth, and, thus, success.
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Who is your most valued role model and why?
My mother without a doubt is my most valued role model. She is a very strong woman, and I admire her character and integrity. She has been an incredible source of encouragement to me through her love and support, and I hope to reflect these same qualities to others.
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What was your most unexpected moment?
When I was 13, I competed with my first ballet solo in a regional dance competition. Since it was my first solo, I had not expected to receive a high score for my dance, and I was very nervous. However, I actually received a gold medal for my dance, and I was very excited! From that point on, I decided that I would always believe in myself and put my heart into everything that I did.
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What is your workout routine?
I really enjoy exercising, and I like to do a variety of exercises during the week. Typically, I lift weights and do Pilates three times a week. For a cardiovascular workout, I run, cycle, or dance 5 to 6 times a week.
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What has been your biggest accomplishment to date?
I do not necessarily define accomplishment in terms of awards and titles. For me, being able to give back to children in my community through being a literacy volunteer, teaching dance, and teaching Sunday school has been my greatest accomplishment. I am very blessed to have been given the talents and resources to pursue excellence in my own life, and, more importantly, to bless and serve others along the way.
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What is the best compliment you have ever recieved?
A parent of one of my dance students once told me that she hoped her daughter would grow up to be just like me, both in my dancing ability and in my character. This compliment has encouraged me to strive to always be a positive role model.
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What is your secret wish?
Disney World is one of my favorite places, and I would love to play Belle there and dance in one of their entertainment shows!
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What was your most embarrassing moment?
When I was in high school, we took a tap dance to a regional dance competition. We wore tall hats as part of our costumes, and in the middle of the dance, my hat flew off and hit another girl in the face! I was so embarrassed, but I kept on dancing anyway!
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What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
Sonic French Toast Sticks are definitely my most guilty pleasure! It is a tradition that after every pageant I compete in, my friends and family drive me to Sonic to indulge!
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What is your favorite movie and why?
"Father of the Bride" is my all-time favorite movie because it reminds me of the close relationship my dad and I have. Steve Martin is so funny in this movie, and he actually reminds me of my own dad. I only hope that when I get married one day, my dad won’t go to quite the same extremes!
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What do you like to do for fun... relaxation... recreation?
For fun, I really enjoy just being with friends and family. To relax, I love to curl up with a good book and listen to Josh Groban. I also love dancing, particularly ballet, and I really enjoy choreographing a new dance.
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What would be your dream vacation or destination?
I would absolutely love to visit Hawaii. It appears to be so beautiful and exotic from the mountains and volcanoes to the deep blue ocean. I love to be outdoors, and I think I would love Hawaii!
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What do you like best about the state of Mississippi?
The hospitality shown in this great state is what makes Mississippi special to me. No matter where I travel in Mississippi, I can always expect to be met with friendliness, warmth, and acceptance.
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Where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years, I hope to be happily married and have a job as a public relations specialist for an organization. I also hope to be continuing to dance and teach dance, and I would actually love to own my own dance studio. More importantly, I hope to be experiencing the joy of having one or two children.
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Who am I?
I am a junior at Mississippi State University majoring in communication with an emphasis in public relations. After I graduate, I plan to attend graduate school to earn a master’s degree in business administration. I have a passion for dancing as well as teaching dance, and I would love to continue dancing and own my own dance studio one day. I am very blessed to be surrounded by an incredible family and wonderful friends, and they have pushed me and inspired me to reach for my dreams and keep on dancing. God is the foundation of my life, and I am so thankful for the talents He has blessed me with.

On a lighter note, I have a mild obsession with anything pink or leopard print (including shoes!). I really like desserts, especially any type of cake. In fact, one of my friends started a tradition of baking me a cake after every pageant competition. It is a great reward! I also love to travel, and New York City has been my favorite place to visit. During my visits there, I have taken dance classes, shopped a lot, and seen several Broadway plays (Aida is my favorite). I’m ready to go back and do it all over again! I also love cheering on my MSU Bulldogs at all sporting events, especially basketball – go Dawgs!
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Tell us about your platform.
When I was a child, my parents instilled in me a love for books, and this has had a huge impact on my life, especially my education. When I was sixteen, I began reading to preschool and elementary classes to share my love of books with children. I soon discovered that reading was, indeed, a problem not only in my own community but in countless communities across our nation. For this reason, I have continued to read to children in hopes of instilling in them a love for books that will persuade them to want to learn to read for themselves.

My platform issue is encouraging and motivating children to read, and my focus is on literacy in children between the ages of three and eight. For the last four years, I have been reading to preschool and elementary school classes in both public and private schools. I have also tutored children in reading in one of our public schools and at a local community center.

I am convinced that my literacy project has benefited the lives and education of the children I have read to and tutored. Research has shown that children who are read to often at an early age tend to be more successful in their education and in the workplace than those who are not read to. Since reading is a foundation for all other learning, I believe we should make improving childhood literacy a top priority in our communities.
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