What are your Hobbies?
Singing, dancing, TRYING to play the guitar, drinking smoothies- mmm, writing, drawing and painting, laughing and making people laugh, and being with my family and friends as much as possible!
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What makes you special and unique?
I think what makes me unique is that I live with my best friend, Brittany. When I was in 7th grade my parents got divorced. Later, at one of my Show Choir practices my daddy met Brittany's mom (who was also a single parent) and they started dating! They ultimately got married, and my best friend and I became sisters! I think it's a really cool living situation, and I love to tell people about it!
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What is the best advice you have ever received?
The best advice I have ever received is my favorite Bible verse, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6. This verse comforts me and lets me know that God has a perfect plan for me and that if I give my all to him, He will direct my life in His perfect way.
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Name one thing you cannot live without.
I'm going to be honest- I probably could not live without the internet! I use it to study, to do homework, to research, and to connect with friends and family. I don't how the world worked properly when the internet did not exist.
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What's the most valuable lesson you've ever learned?
The most valuable lesson I've ever learned in my 18 years is that I should not be quick to gossip and put other people down. Every time you talk negatively about someone, you devalue that person to someone who may not know them. How selfish are we to push other people down when we ourselves are imperfect and flawed?
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Who is your most valued role model and why?
That's easy. My most valued role model is my daddy. He's the strongest, most well-grounded person I know. He's my best friend, and even though I may not act like it at times, I treasure every single word he says. Basically, if he told me to jump off a bridge, I would. Haha!
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What was your most unexpected moment?
My most unexpected moment-believe it or not- is right now. Competing in the Miss America program has always been my "impossible dream," and it's hard to believe it has become a reality. Win or lose or place or whatever, just being here has fulfilled a goal I've had since I was a little girl.
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What is your workout routine?
My step-mom wrote me a workout routine to abide by every time I'm in the gym. Whether I do exactly or what's written or not is questionable, but I really do try. I also like to do sit-ups and push-ups while I watch TLC every afternoon.
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What has been your biggest accomplishment to date?
My biggest accomplishment was when I gave my life to Jesus. I was nine years old, and I still remember exactly what was said. It completely changed my life for the better, and now I don't have to wonder what is going to happen to me when I die.
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What is the best compliment you have ever received?
The best compliment that I've ever received is that I am a respectable person. One of my biggest pet- peeves is seeing girls and guys of all different ages disrespecting themselves in different ways. The one thing we all have is our reputation, and if you can't know in your heart that yours is pure no matter what people say, then how will you ever feel content with yourself? Knowing that someone noticed my efforts of keeping my reputation clean really meant a lot to me.
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What is your secret wish?
Now if I told you, it wouldn't be a secret anymore! I'm kidding. I wish that I could play the guitar like Jimi Hendrix. I try and try to get better, but apparently guitar-playing just isn't in my blood. I think it would be amazing to just sit down with a guitar and be able to play every great song ever written.
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What was your most embarrassing moment?
Oh goodness. When I was a Freshman in high school, I started hanging out with one of the Junior guys. He thought we were dating, and when he found out I had started dating my ex-boyfriend again, he and all his friends gave me and my boyfriend a REALLY hard time. Then, on Valentine's day we had a program at school and my boyfriend and I got chosen for "Most Compatible Couple." We had to walk in front of the whole school to recieve our prize. It was humiliating because all of the Juniors and Seniors just glared at us the whole time! I'm glad I can look back now and laugh, but it will live on as my most embarrassing moment until something worse happens.
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What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
My biggest guilty pleasure is FOOD. Simple and to the point. Before I had to start watching my figure for the pageant (ha), I literally just ate for fun. It's a bad habit, I know, but I really eat because I love the taste of food- not because I'm hungry. One day, food will surely be the death of me! I'll have to work hard at keeping my metabolism up.
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What is your favorite movie and why?
I have about a million favorite movies. Since I have to pick one, I guess I'll say "The Breakfast Club." I could watch it over and over and never get tired of it, which is funny because the whole movie takes place in one room. "Breakfast Club" pegs all of the different labels in most high schools, and is an easy movie to connect with in some way.
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What do you like to do for fun... relaxation... recreation?
I love to sleep- ask any of my friends and they will roll their eyes and agree. It's sad but on a day that I don't have anything to do, I can sleep until about 2 in the afternoon! I also love to simply hang out with my friends. Nothing is better than the reassurance that you have great friends that will be there for you.
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What would be your dream vacation or destination?
Any beach with white sand and clear water would be my destination. I would have all of my friends with me, and we would be drinking Kool-aid squeezies and eating turkey sandwiches on a big blanket by the ocean. It would be a perfect day outside (warm with a little breeze.) We would have a C.D. playing all of our favorite songs, and time would stand still.
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What do you like best about the state of Mississippi?
I think the whole state of Mississippi holds a sense of pride like no other in the country. Whether we live in a tent by the river or a mansion on a hill, we are all proud of our roots and our state. Also, I think our hospitality is unbeatable. Having been to some of the "bigger cities" of our country, I've realized that the people of my state are some of the nicest in the country.
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Where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years I would really like to be settled in my career and to be a respected voice in my community. I would like to be married with a baby, and most of all I would like to be content.
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Who am I?
I was born on May 15 in the small town of Laurel, Mississippi. My childhood was filled with bugs, dirt, and really tacky clothes. In fact, my love for wearing sequins and poofy dresses in public completely juxtaposed that of my mother's. She loved having my sister and I dressed "to the T" in matching dresses and hair-bows, which I hated. I've always been one to walk barefoot outside in the grass and catch lizards with my daddy. I guess I am a pretty simple girl.

My whole life I have been known as the "creative" sister. I love to draw, paint, and write stories when I have free time. When I go into a library, I get really inspired to write- one of my goals in life is to write a book. My favorite thing to do is perform onstage in front of an audience. To know that a whole room can enjoy my performance is such a gratifying feeling.

My family is very important to me. With one sister, two step- sisters, two step- brothers, and two sets of parents, I am never lacking advice and guidance. I was brought up in a Christian home, and I hold most dear my salvation in Jesus Christ. It is amazing to me how many times I fail in my walk with Jesus, and how He still loves me unconditionally. My life is happy and I am content in who I am.
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Tell us about your platform.
Last year my best friend and I were driving home from a movie, and we were talking about life. My friend ultimately admitted to me that he/she had been unhappy his/her entire high school career and had gotten to the point of attempted suicide. After finding out how depressed my friend had been and how no one had even known, my heart burned for everyone else in our state, country, and world who struggles with the same issues. Upon entering my first preliminary pageant, I knew that I wanted to have a platform dealing with the recognition and prevention of depression.

I think that by informing the public on the symptoms of depression and by teaching that there is help for this disease, lives can be saved. Through efforts such as a website that I have created and pamphlets that I have distributed to local doctors' offices, I hope to impact this area of my community. People should not have to live with depression, and I want to do everything I can to help fight this silent killer.
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