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Miss University
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? Ole Miss and New York Giants Football, Snow Skiing, PGA Golf, Antique and Estate Sale Shopping Back to Top What makes you special and unique? I enjoy meeting new people and have the ability to talk with and relate to most everyone I meet. My parents say that as a small child I would talk and smile at every person that we passed in the grocery store. I always keep in mind that all people are looking to be loved and validated. This understanding is my greatest aid in building relationships and communicating with people, no matter their background. Back to Top What is the best advice you have ever received? During a recent leadership luncheon Chancellor Robert Khayat imparted this wisdom upon me, "No individual can truly reach their full potential in life until they give of themselves and serve others." I learned to embrace service at a young age and have continued to strengthen myself as a woman through the practice of giving. Life is about touching others through service and love. Back to Top Name one thing you cannot live without. I absolutely can not live without prayer. Prayer sustains me, giving me peace and assurance daily. I am also blessed to have the prayers of others which help guide and direct my life. I know that the Lord has a purpose for my life, and I rest assured on his master plan. Back to Top What's the most valuable lesson you've ever learned? The most valuable lesson that I have learned is to listen first before speaking or taking action. Listening to others and looking at a situation through their eyes is often a sure way to avoid misunderstandings. Back to Top Who is your most valued role model and why? My grandmother serves as a valuable role model for me. At the age of 82 she plays the guitar, walks three miles every morning, and even takes jazz and tap dance lessons. I hope I have her vigor and zest for life in my 80’s! Back to Top What was your most unexpected moment? Last November I was shocked to hear my name and number called as the winner of the annual Parade of Beauties at Ole Miss. I was honored to represent my sorority and wanted to practice my stage presentation for Miss University, but I never expected to win. There were 87 beautiful contestants and any one of them could have won. My senior year at Ole Miss has truly been full of blessings. Back to Top What is your workout routine? Exercise is a great release for me. I enjoy many different types of physical activity from snow skiing and hiking to indoor cycling classes. My workout plan consists of varied cardio routines 6 days a week, and is supplemented by weight training 4-5 days a week. I keep busy and enjoy any physical activity that provides a challenge! Back to Top What has been your biggest accomplishment to date? My biggest accomplishment to date is achieving scholastic success while balancing service and leadership opportunities during my tenure at Ole Miss. I can honestly say that I made the best of my college experience, and all of that hard work paid off when I was recently named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities. Back to Top What is the best compliment you have ever recieved? The best compliment that I have ever received came from a special mentor with the Ole Miss Women’s Council. After winning Miss University she told me that the first time she met me she was drawn in by my genuine spirit and the light that shined through me. She said that during my first interview for the scholarship she knew that I was the type of woman who could be a Miss America some day. Back to Top What is your secret wish? I have always been fascinated with aviation and the marvel of flight. Since my first air travel experience (and the movie TOPGUN) I have secretly wished to be a Navy fighter pilot. Piloting my jet into the great horizon would be a thrilling endeavor! Back to Top What was your most embarrassing moment? My senior year of high school I had a terrifying and embarrassing moment while cheering at a home football game. During the third quarter a large flying beetle somehow managed to wrangle its way into my ponytail. The stray bug crawled upward to the crown of my head, and from that point mass hysteria ensued! I absolutely despise creepy crawly critters and cringe at the thought of a massive insect scuttling through my hair. I began to panic and scream, which drew quite an interest from the crowd. My cheerleading coach and several other squad members ran to my aid, which defiantly escalated the situation because every time the beetle buzzed they would shriek. After five traumatizing minutes we managed to dislodge the bug. The crowd of people who gathered to view the spectacle began to clap as the ordeal came to a close. The best thing about the story is that the incident was captured on video and I can view it anytime I need a laugh! Back to Top What is your biggest guilty pleasure? My biggest guilty pleasure is Crème Brule! My father and I both agree that it will be served in heaven Back to Top What is your favorite movie and why? I love James Bond Movies! The life of a secret agent is fantastically intriguing. I always make a point to watch the annual 007 TV marathon, and I am not ashamed to admit that the collector’s edition DVD set, which includes all my favorite James Bond movies, was on the top of my Christmas list. Back to Top What do you like to do for fun... relaxation... recreation? I have a true passion for snow skiing. A good mountain offers me an invigorating thrill. Groomers, powder, moguls; I love to ski it all! I have even made a commitment to ski once a year as long as I am physically able. The mountain air and beautiful panorama cleanse my spirit while allowing me to experience God’s magnificent creation. Back to Top What would be your dream vacation or destination? My dream vacation includes an entire season of visiting the picturesque landscapes and cozy villages of ski towns across America. From Aspen to Lake Tahoe I would love to ski them all! Clean mountain air, great food, fine shopping, and good snow…..I couldn’t ask for more! Back to Top What do you like best about the state of Mississippi? Raised in the same home in Olive Branch, MS for my entire life, I certainly have a deep appreciation for my state. The best thing about Mississippi is the genuine spirit of hospitality and graciousness. I experienced an example of the true Mississippi spirit during my Spring Break trip to Breckenridge, Colorado. While riding a shuttle from the grocery store back to my hotel I heard a young boy raise a question to his father. The six year old asked, "Why was that lady at the grocery store so rude to you daddy? You weren’t ugly to her." His father answered, "Son she just isn’t from where we’re from, we treat others with respect." Another man on the bus said, "You must be from Mississippi." Sure enough the father and son were from Tupelo. The same hospitality and respect for others is exuded by citizens across our fine state. This spirit makes me proud to call Mississippi home. Back to Top Where do you see yourself in ten years? No matter where I am ten years from now I will be using the gifts that I have been given to touch the lives of others and make a positive impact through service. In ten years I hope to be a former Miss America traveling the country as a motivational speaker! I will be a mother of two and excellent cook, married to the man of my dreams. I also plan to be a mentor to young woman, so that I may positively influence their lives, just as my mentors have influenced mine. Back to Top Who am I? I am a 22 year old senior at the University of Mississippi. My scholastic goal is to graduate Magna Cum Laude in May with a degree in Marketing/Communications. I have really enjoyed my college experience and all of the opportunities in leadership and learning that have been afforded to me. I have truly been blessed with membership in Phi Kappa Phi, Omicron Delta Kappa, Lambda Sigma, Order of Omega, and Mortar Board. During my four years at Ole Miss I have also had the opportunity to serve as an Orientation Leader, Student Programming Board Member, Ole Miss Ambassador, Student Alumni Council member, Associated Student Body Senator, and an officer within my sorority. After graduation I plan to enter graduate school to obtain my MBA. I decided last summer that I wanted to compete in the Miss University pageant, and began working toward my goal. It has been my dream for several years to compete on the big stage in Vicksburg, but until this year the timing was never right. My father has always told me "The right thing at the wrong time, is the wrong thing." I knew that if I worked hard and pursued my goal the Lord would give me the opportunity to compete at Miss Mississippi at his chosen time. I am so grateful to be a part of the 50th anniversary pageant in Vicksburg, and I guess this year was the "right time" for me to realize my dream to compete at Miss Mississippi! I am passionate about my platform (Keeping a Clear Mind: Early Education Against Substance Abuse) and have worked with it since 9th grade. I have already had the opportunity to speak at several events and with several high school classes as Miss University. I love public speaking, and hope that the Lord can use me to make a positive impact through my experiences in the Miss America Program. I am also working on a children’s book that educates children on the dangers of substance abuse. Family is very important to me. I have two younger brothers (Tim is 19 and Ben is 18) and a Yorkshire terrier named Jasmine. My mother is a guidance counselor and my father is a 9th and 10th grade biology teacher, so education has always had a strong influence on my life. I was blessed to receive several scholarships that made it possible for me to attend Ole Miss (and even pay for my living expenses and sorority dues).
I love life and strive to experience it to the fullest. I laugh at myself daily and always look for the positives in every situation. Those who know me best know that I am fanatical about coconut! I enjoy everything from coconut body cream and spray to coconut cream pie shakes from Sonic. I also enjoy bowling, and hope to someday bowl a perfect game. I am always up for a challenge and work tirelessly to reach my goals. Ultimately, I believe that life is about making a positive impact on other people, and I am committed to using my gifts to touch the lives of others.
Tell us about your platform. My passion for educating young students on the dangers of substance abuse and the importance of making good decisions began when I was a ninth grade student at Olive Branch High School. Frontline and The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi opened many doors for me to serve my community and state. I have enjoyed traveling to and speaking in many schools, as well as speaking before various state legislators and civic organizations. I especially enjoyed my work with the Olive Branch Police Department in teaching alcohol and drug awareness in elementary classrooms. While advocating, I also had the opportunity to promote Representative John Mayo’s Smoke Free for Lent program while working with Desoto County restaurants on becoming smoke-free establishments.
As a student at The University of Mississippi, I have taken an active role in promoting the importance of making good decisions regarding substance abuse. I was elected to the Ole Miss Associated Student Body Senate where I have worked with university administration to reduce smoking on campus and move Ole Miss towards becoming smoke-free. In addition to my work with tobacco education and campus legislation, I serve as an inaugural officer in the CHEERS organization. As a member of CHEERS (Creatively Helping Educate and Establish a Responsible Society), I work to promote safety and responsibility among Ole Miss students and our community while raising awareness about alcohol abuse.
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