What are your Hobbies?
My hobbies include singing, playing piano, boating, riding horses, and enjoying other recreational activities on the river or in its forests.
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What makes you special and unique?
I have been blessed with many talents. I am special and unique because of my ability to use these talents around my community to help people. For example, I tutor friends, sing in church, play the piano in church, and sing at fundraisers.
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What is the best advice you have ever received?
The best advice I have ever received was given to me by my mother. She has told me numerous times, “You’ve got to stand for something, or you’ll fall for anything.” This statement has been proven true more times than I can count. Especially in high school, if you are not sure of who you are as an individual, you open yourself up to the negative influences of other people. Thus, you may become manipulated by ‘friends’ to make decisions that you know are truly wrong.
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Name one thing you cannot live without.
I absolutely could not live without the never-ending support of my family. They are always there for not only my financial and physical needs, but also my emotional needs. I know I could not have accomplished my many goals without them.
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What's the most valuable lesson you've ever learned?
The most valuable lesson I have ever learned is to always be considerate and don’t be quick to judge or criticize others. What you see on the surface is totally different than the underlying feelings of a person. Smile at someone. Ask them how their day was. You never know just how much this could brighten someone’s day.
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Who is your most valued role model and why?
I am my own individual and unique person, so I wouldn’t say I have one individual role model. I admire various characteristics in different people. I admire the hard work that I have seen accomplished by my grandfather. I admire my mother’s ability to juggle the roles of a mother, wife, and business woman all at once. I also admire my cousin’s ability to be so loving and understanding towards everyone she encounters.
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What was your most unexpected moment?
My most unexpected moment has just recently occurred. I was told congratulations by my headmaster at school, and I was dumbfounded until he informed me that I had scored a 30 on my ACT. I was SO excited and surprised!!
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What is your workout routine?
My workout routine is nothing extraordinary. I usually begin with thirty minutes of cardio exercise such as walking or running. I then lift weights and finish up with some toning exercises and those dreaded ab workouts.
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What has been your biggest accomplishment to date?
My biggest accomplishment to date would have to be winning the 4-H Dressage Competition at the State Horse Show for two years. It was such a rewarding experience after all the hard work and preparation for the event.
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What is the best compliment you have ever received?
The best compliment I ever received was being told by a first-grader at our school that she and her friend always fight over who gets to be Mary Margaret when they are playing games. I was flattered to know that I was influencing her at such a young age. This motivated me to continue being a role model for children because I realized how much they really pay attention to my actions.
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What is your secret wish?
My secret wish is to obtain a degree in either government law, political science, or communications etc. I dream of one day holding public office or possibly being an ambassador for the United States.
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What was your most embarrassing moment?
My most embarrassing moment would have to be when my 45 year-old mother attempted to wake board on the lake last summer. She failed tremendously (as you can imagine), and I was mortified. She later redeemed herself by water-skiing that afternoon. I will always remember that laughter-filled day.
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What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
My biggest guilty pleasure would have to be my weakness for sweets. Every once in a while, I love to curl up on the couch and watch a good movie while indulging myself with a bowl of ice cream.
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What is your favorite movie and why?
Ok.. I have thought and thought about this question and I just cannot narrow down my choices. I love all Disney films. “Alice in Wonderland” is a favorite; I just love all the whimsical characters. Another favortie would have to be “Sweet Home Alabama”. I also like “The DaVinci Code” because it really tweaks your brain and makes you think. As you can see, I have a broad spectrum of movie choices.
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What do you like to do for fun... relaxation... recreation?
For fun, I enjoy singing, shopping, listening to music, watching movies, and talking with friends. When I need to devote some time to relaxation I usually take some time alone to either read a book, go outside, or somewhere a little secluded to get my thoughts in line after a long day or week. For recreation, I let my dad and brother take me out for a day on the lake, the river, or the hunting club. I also enjoy exercising, swimming, or riding horses as a recreational activity.
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What would be your dream vacation or destination?
I know this may be hard to believe; unfortunately, I have only been to the beach once. This was by sheer luck when we went to Gulf Shores for cheerleading camp. I had a wonderful experience and would love to go back to the beach. However, this time I would rather it be on an exotic, tropical island.
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What do you like best about the state of Mississippi?
I am very proud of the fact that Mississippi is known as the most charitable state even though it is also known as the state with the lowest income rate. This shows a lot about Mississippi’s loving character. I also love that Mississippi possesses many different landscapes: from its forested regions, its rolling hills, its sunny beaches, to (my personal favorite) its fertile Mississippi River Delta.
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Where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years I will be twenty-six years old. My future is very susceptible to change but God-willing I will be finishing up my higher education. I will be pursuing a job and hopefully settling down to begin a family of my own.
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What extracurricular activities do you participate in?
I am a member of the Bayou Blues Show Choir, cheerleading squad, soccer team, Community Service Club, Catholic Youth Organization, and the Honor Society.
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Who am I?
Well let’s start with my birth and my family. I was born on December 12, 1990. I was born and raised in Cleveland, Mississippi. I am the oldest child in a family of four. My mother, Mary Jo, is a veterinarian. My dad, Fred, is an ag-pilot, and I have a fourteen year-old brother named Winn.

I really enjoy living in Cleveland because of its small-town hospitality. You can always find a friend or family member no matter where you go, and they always make you feel right at home. This is also a main reason that I attend a small school like Bayou Academy High School.

I will soon be a junior at Bayou Academy High School which I have attended since the 7th grade. I like animals, sports, visiting different places, meeting new people, helping people, and learning new information. I am considered a leader in my community, church, and school. I am a very responsible person that can always be counted on to get a job finished correctly and on time.

I love to sing whether it is to the radio in the car or on stage. I also like to play the piano and would like to learn how to play the guitar. I guess you could say I am an all-around musical person. I love to shop; though I rarely have the chance. I have a great group of friends. For fun, we enjoy going to the movies, out to eat, or to the river.

This is my first year in the pageant world, but I have already met so many incredible people. I cannot wait to get to know them more at the upcoming pageant.
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Tell us about your platform.
My platform is the prevention of teen drinking and drug abuse. This is an issue that I have seen greatly affect people not only in my community, but in other communities as well. It is one of the main pressures that teens face, and I have witnessed its tragic effects firsthand. Those are a few of the reasons why I chose my platform and why I am so passionate about it.

Here are a few statistics that I found while researching my platform. I am sure you will find them as shocking as I did. Underage drinkers account for one-fifth of our nation’s alcohol consumption. 51.6% of teens have at least one alcoholic beverage every thirty days. The leading causes of death in teenagers are automobile crashes, homicides, and suicides--alcohol is a leading factor in all of these. These stats are unreal and ridiculously high. What happens when drinking alcohol no longer gives you that rush you are looking for? Teens turn to drugs.

The use of alcohol and drugs has no positive effects. It results in damage to your body, a decline in your emotional status, impaired judgment on all physical activities, and harmful (sometimes fatal) accidents. Not many people plan to hurt anyone when they drink. They claim that they know its harmful effects, and that they can control themselves; but they can’t. You lose control of yourself and those around you when you use these substances.

I have a younger brother, and I do not want him to be taken down by pressure from his friends. He is my inspiration. I try to help him and others realize that the use of drugs and alcohol is not essential to have a good time. I hope that my platform educates and inspires others to join my journey in attempting to reduce the use of alcohol and drugs in our nation.
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