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Miss Southern Magnolia
What makes you special and unique? What is the best advice you have ever received? Name one thing you cannot live without. What is the most valuable lesson you ever learned? Who is your most valued role model and why? What was your most unexpected moment? What is your workout routine? What has been your biggest accomplishment to date? What is the best compliment you have ever recieved? What is your secret wish? What was your most embarrassing moment? What is your biggest guilty pleasure? What is your favorite movie and why? What do you like to do for fun... relaxation... recreation? What would be your dream vacation or destination? What do you like best about the state of Mississippi? Where do you see yourself in ten years? Who am I? Tell us about your platform. What are your Hobbies? I enjoy singing, dancing, traveling, shopping, and spending time with my family and friends. Back to Top What makes you special and unique? Something that makes me special and unique is that I consider myself to be an "old soul". I love watching "I Love Lucy" reruns and listening to Elvis Presley's music. Although I love many different artists and styles of music, Elvis is my all time favorite! Back to Top What is the best advice you have ever received? The best advice I have ever been given came from a fortune cookie. It stated, "Remember, everything happens for a reason." When things don't go as I had planned, I am always reminded that that there is a reason for it and that God has a greater plan for my life. Back to Top Name one thing you cannot live without. The one thing I cannot live without is my annual trip to Showchoir Camps of America at Millikin University in Illinois. It is a week of nonstop singing and dancing with the best choreographers in the country. Even though the 16-hour bus ride is painful, the knowledge gained and the friendships made are well worth it! Back to Top What's the most valuable lesson you've ever learned? The most valuable lesson I have ever learned is that my mother is always right. Although this is sometimes difficult to admit, she continues to amaze me with her guidance and wisdom. Thanks, Mom! Back to Top Who is your most valued role model and why? My parents have always been my role models. They constantly challenge me to be my best. I admire them so much for everything they do for my siblings and me. I could not ask for more supportive and loving parents. Back to Top What was your most unexpected moment? As a sophomore, a classmate and I choreographed the West Jones Middle School show choir’s competition show. It was an exciting challenge. At their first event, we were thrilled with their performance, but fell out of our seats when the group won the "Best Choreography" Award. This was one of the most rewarding and unexpected moments of my life. Back to Top What is your workout routine? My workout routine consists of weight training, yoga, aerobics, and my favorite Firm Ab Sculpt video. Back to Top What has been your biggest accomplishment to date? I was very proud to culminate my senior year with several awards including the USM Leadership Scholarship and being inducted into the Hall of Fame at my high school. Back to Top What is the best compliment you have ever received? Recently, a teacher told me that she had assigned her students an essay that asked them to describe their greatest role model. One of her eleventh grade students decided to write about me as their role model. I was so humbled by this. For another student to think of me as someone worth admiring was one of the nicest compliments I have ever received. Back to Top What is your secret wish? My secret wish is to go to New York and pursue a career on Broadway. I would love nothing more than to perform on a stage in front of thousands of people every night. Even a chorus role will do! Back to Top What was your most embarrassing moment? I must not be easily embarrassed, because for the life of me I cannot recall a most embarrassing moment, or at least not one that I am willing to admit publicly! Back to Top What is your biggest guilty pleasure? My biggest guilty pleasure is reality television. Project Runway, American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, and The Biggest Loser are just a few of my favorites. Back to Top What is your favorite movie and why? One of my all time favorite movies is The Wizard of Oz. I have loved this movie since childhood, and to this day, I still would love to play the role of Dorothy. Back to Top What do you like to do for fun... relaxation... recreation? I love to spend time with my three best friends. We usually go to Starbucks, watch movies, go shopping, and just talk for hours. It is so nice to spend time with people that really understand you and make you laugh until you cry, literally! Back to Top What would be your dream vacation or destination? My dream vacation is to go to New York City. I want to see the Broadway shows, visit the landmarks, and, most importantly, shop. Back to Top What do you like best about the state of Mississippi? I love Mississippi because of its sense of hospitality. Everywhere you go you can count on being greeted with a warm smile and "Hey, how are y’all doing?" No matter what part of Mississippi you visit, it always feels like home. Back to Top Where do you see yourself in ten years? I hope to be an accomplished show choir director with an award-winning program. Back to Top Who am I? My name is Kristen Leigh Benigno and I am the 18-year-old daughter of Chuck and Gina Benigno of Laurel. I have a sister named Kaitlin, 16, and a brother named Brett, 8. We also recently added a new member to our family, a Lhasa Apso puppy named Bailey. He is so cute! I am a recent graduate of West Jones High School where I graduated with Highest Honors. I was named Most Likely to Succeed, DAR Citizenship Award winner, and I was inducted into the West Jones Hall of Fame. In the fall, I will be attending the University of Southern Mississippi as a Leadership Scholar. Go Eagles! I enjoy singing, dancing, traveling, and spending time with my family and friends. I love to eat at Olive Garden and I am a sucker for a good romantic comedy. My perfect Friday night is being curled up on the couch with my three best friends watching a good movie.
One of my true passions, and a highlight of my high school career, has been being a member of our award winning showchoir, Imagination. I have served as dance captain for the past two years. Because of my positive experience with showchoir, I have decided to major in Music Education. It is my greatest hope that I may give other young people the same rewarding experiences and opportunities that I have been given through music.
Tell us about your platform.
I have been very fortunate to work with this initiative in my own community. The Teens Getting Involved for the Future (TGIF) program allows 11-12th grade teen leaders to work with 7th graders on this important subject. I have seen first hand the difference this program is making in the lives of our youth. It is my hope that all middle school students will have an opportunity to hear this message.
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