What are your hobbies?
My hobbies are playing basketball, playing tennis, traveling, going to the lake, swimming, watching the Food Network, and spending time with my friends and family.

What makes you special and unique?
I think what makes me special and unique is that I am just Lauren. I feel that everyone has something special about them and everyone is an individual which makes them unique.

What is the best advice you have ever received?
The best advice I have ever received was from my mom. She has always told me to be myself in any situation.

Name one thing you cannot live without.
I cannot live without my family, friends, and chapstick!

What is the most valuable lesson you ever learned?
As a college student involved in many extracurricular activities and working two jobs, I have learned the important lesson of time management. It is very important to be able to balance school, a social life, and work.

Who is your most valued role model and why?
My most valued role model is my little sister, Kristen. She seems to succeed at everything and has a positive attitude. She is such a good person and at the age of 16, that is very admirable.

What was your most unexpected moment?
My most unexpected moment ws my 18th birthday surprise party my friends and family threw for me at McDonald's. I didn't see it coming!!

What is your workout routine?
I try to do some sort of cardio and weight training everyday. I don't like to workout alone, so I always try to find a friend to work out with me.

What has been your biggest accomplishment to date?
My biggest accomplishment was being chosen to serve as an Orientation Leader for Delta State. I was very honored to be chosen for this position. This was an opportunity to advise incoming students on everyting to do with Delta State. It was very rewarding to be able to impact a new student's life.

What is the best compliment you have ever received?
The best compliment I have ever received came in the form of tshirts! All of my friends came to support me at the Miss Delta State Pageant and had shirts made with my face covering the front!! They also had signs around the dorms wishing me good luck. It really means a lot to have such good friends who support me in all I do.

What is your secret wish?
My secret wish is to be a Barker's Beauty on the "Price is Right" or to be the Wicked Witch in the Broadway musical "Wicked."

What was your most embarrassing moment?
One time when I was eating in the cafeteria, I slipped and fell down. I broke my plate and spilled food everywhere!! The whole place turned and looked at me and erupted with laughter and clapping for my graceful move!

What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
My biggest guilty pleasure is junk food and celebrity gossip!

What is your favorite movie and why?
I have so many favorite movies, but my all time favorite has to be "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." I love how he skips school and spends the day doing all sorts of fun things. I've always wanted to skip a day of school and have as much fun as he and his friends did on their day off!

What is your favorite color and why?
My favorite color is green because it reminds me of my favorite season, spring!

What do you like to do for fun... relaxation... recreation?
For fun: I like to play Guitar Hero or Rock Band, shop, and lay out in the sun!

For relaxation: There is nothing better than taking a nap and watching Lifetime movies all day to relax.

For recreation: I love to play sports outside for recreation. Tennis and flag football are probably my favorite outdoor sports.

What would be your dream vacation or destination?
Hawaii! I've always wanted to go surfing!

What do you like best about your hometown?
My favorite thing about Grenada is its wonderful location. It is right in the middle of Jackson, Memphis, and Tupelo!

What do you like best about the state of Mississippi, besides our food & hospitality?
Mississippi is a very culturally oriented state. Our state has everything from art, to music, to history.

What's in your CD player or on your iPod right now?
I love all different kinds of music! Music is one thing I can't live without! I have everything on my iPod from Sara Bareilles to The Fray to Daughtry to Reba McIntire. I also love Gavin DeGraw, Howie Day, Better Than Ezra, and Kelly Clarkson!

Where do you see yourself in ten years?
I see myself living in a major city, married with children, and working for a marketing firm. I also could see myself starting my own event planning company in ten years.

Who am I?
I am a 22 year old senior at Delta State University. I will graduate in May with a Bachelors in Business with an emphasis in Marketing. I have truly enjoyed my college experience and everything Delta State has offered me. During my years at DSU, I have been an active member of Kappa Delta Sorority, Renaissance, Student Alumni Association, Diamond Girls, and the Union Program Council. I have also had the honor of being inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa, serving as an Orientation Leader, and being chosen to represent the College of Business in the Student Senate. I have two jobs and stay very busy between all my etracurricular activities. I plan on continuing my education after graduation by earning an MBA in Business. Ultimately, I would love to have the opportunity to start a business and become a successful young woman.

People that know me don't see me as the typical "pageant girl." I love sports, intramurals, and doing anything outdoors. I am most comfortable in jeans and t-shirts, rather than heels and glitzy dresses. But, I enjoy the adrenaline rush I get from being on stage during pageants. Even though I'm a casual, outdoorsy girl, I still love the girly things that come along with participating in pageants.

My family and friends are very important to me. I have one younger sister named Kristen. As we have grown older, we have developed a very strong relationship. I have a tremendous amount of respect for her. My two sweet grandmother's have always been a big part of my life. Now that I'm entering pageants they have a new hobby! My parents have also been two of the biggest influences on my life.

Tell us about your occupational experience.
I think I have had every job under the sun!! Here are just a few of my places of employment:

Grenada Diagnostic Radiology- I worked here from the time I turned 15 until my sophomore year in college! I love the women that I worked with and really learned how to balance school and work.

Spencer's Dairy Kream- I loved working at Spencer's! What's better than making ice cream and hamburgers?!?!

Nationwide Insurance- I still work at Nationwide Insurance when my uncle lets me! This job has definitely taught me how to run a business.

Registrar's at Delta State- I currently work on campus at DSU at the office of the Registrar. The students and ladies that work here are WONDERFUL! This is a job that is so much fun to go to!

Warehouse- The Warehouse is a great restaurant in Cleveland with EXCELLENT sandwiches! Come by! I'll be hostessing and I can show you to a table!

Tell us about your platform.
The platform issue that I am sincerely committed to is recognizing the signs of and preventing child abuse. I would like to teach my community, as well as my state, the signs to look for in the case of child abuse, and what actions to take if abuse is discovered. Prevent Child Abuse America defines “Five R’s” in cases dealing with issues such as child abuse. The steps are as follows:

Reach Out: Reach out to a parent who may seem stressed or inattentive. Reach out to a child by asking them questions to show them you care. Starting committees in various neighborhoods to look out for one another is a positive way to promote the prevention of child abuse. Giving toys and clothes to a needy family, or volunteering in organizations throughout the community are also positive ways to deal with these issues.

Raise the Issue: Raise the issue by researching information about abuse to educate yourself and others. April is national Child Abuse Prevention month, and people can show their support by wearing blue ribbons.

Remember the Risk Factors: One should always remember the risk factors of child abuse. It is important to realize both obvious signs and obscure signs of child abuse.

Recognize the Warning Signs: The issue of recognizing the warning signs is one that many people do not know much about. Along with “Remember the Risk Factors,” one should not if a child has obvious warning signs, such as bruises or injuries. But, there are many more signs that need to be addressed as well.

Report Suspected Abuse or Neglect: One can report situations by calling the Department of Social Services or even the police. Also, numerous organizations exist where one could obtain information or report crimes. I would also like to raise the issue that child abuse is not just physical abuse alone. Situations such as neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse are all considered forms of child abuse.

I would like to educate the state on ways to recognize forms of child abuse and how to deal with abuse if it is detected. I would also like to encourage people to educate themselves and others about this issue and how to realize how important child abuse truly is. No child deserves to be neglected or abused, therefore, it is imperative that we as a state and a nation step up and face child abuse head on.