What are your hobbies?
I enjoy fishing, public speaking, swimming, working with children, and shopping for antiques.

What makes you special and unique?
Longevity runs in my family. I am very proud to say that I have in my possession a photograph with five generations of women, which includes me and my 103 year-old great-great grandmother. Every time I view that photo, it reminds me that I have so many strong, intelligent women that have paved the way. The values that were instilled in me make me very proud of who I am and where I came from. I am a very sincere and genuine person that has a passion for life and believes that everyday, each of us has the opportunity to help another person.

What is the best advice you have ever received?
"Never let the fear of striking out keep you from stepping up to the plate." This simple statement from A Cinderella Story has guided me many times. If the fear of failing, of striking out, or losing a slipper stops me from reaching my dreams, I’ll never find true happiness. Sometimes stepping out of my comfort zone surprises me with a homerun!

Name one thing you cannot live without.
I can’t live without my family. I am an only child, so my family is the most important thing in my life. I am the son my father never had and the mirror I see my mother in. Together the three of us make memories that will sustain me long after the physical companionship is stretched by miles of graduate school and the next generation.

What is the most valuable lesson you ever learned?
The most valuable lesson learned was from a child whose name I’ll never know. While wearing my crown at a local elementary school event, I walked past a young girl. I heard her say, "Look Mommy! It’s a real princess." This statement made me realize that we all have the opportunity to make an impact on the lives of others. That small child had no idea the impact she had made on me, with such a sincere compliment. Knowing that I could also be a positive role model for her truly touched my heart.

Who is your most valued role model and why?
My mom and I have a very special relationship. I feel very lucky and blessed to have both a friend and mentor for a mother. She is one of the most compassionate people I have ever met. Not only is she intelligent, but she never gives up on anything she sets her mind to. Those qualities that truly make her the wonderful person that she is continue to inspire me to be a better person.

What was your most unexpected moment?
I love to fish, especially at my grandparents’ pond. One day, I stood patiently for hours on the bank with my line in the water. I hadn’t had very much luck the entire afternoon. Suddenly, something began to pull on my line. After a long game of tug-of-war, I victoriously landed a 5 lb. bass!

What is your workout routine?
A healthy lifestyle is very important. Because of that, I do an all around work-out at the gym that includes cardio and weight training. Also, taking a variety of classes helps me because I am constantly running from one end of USM to the other. I enjoy running at my local track because I gives me time to think. Swimming is also part of my routine because not only is it great exercise, but also a way to relax.

What has been your biggest accomplishment to date?
This year at school, the Vice President of Student Affairs notified me that I had been selected as the sole recipient of the Higher Education Awareness Day Working for Academic Excellence (HEADWAE) award for the University of Southern Mississippi. I am honored to represent my university in Jackson and to let others know of opportunities USM has to offer

What is the best compliment you have ever received?
A friend once told me that not only do I wear the crown of Miss Pine Belt but that I always wear crowns of friendship, kindness, and generosity.

What is your secret wish?
I would love the opportunity to be a First Lady. One might ask, "Why not the Presidency?" The reason for my secret wish is that as the First Lady I would have the time and opportunity to work with many community service projects as well as be influential throughout the country.

What was your most embarrassing moment?
I learned quickly that ‘grace’ was not my middle name. However, sometimes I still surprise myself. Not only have I fell going down stairs, I have also accomplished the feat of falling upstairs. As a freshman, accomplishing both of these feats, in front of a large audience of students, is by far my most embarrassing moment.

What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
Anything from a bakery makes me realize that I have no self-control when it comes to my sweet tooth! But, if I had to pick one single item from the bakery, it would have to be petit fours. If you didn’t notice, that is plural because I can never stop with just one!

What is your favorite movie and why?
Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved Mary Poppins. Julie Andrews has such poise and charisma. I have always enjoyed musicals, and I am so excited that my favorite movie made it to Broadway!

What is your favorite color and why?
My favorite color is definitely blue. I love the contrast in shading. A pastel shade of blue can be soothing, whereas a bright shade of blue can be invigorating.

What do you like to do for fun... relaxation... recreation?
I enjoy watching football, fishing, swimming, shopping for antiques, spending time with family and friends, watching and singing along with musicals, and squeezing in a nap if at all possible.

What would be your dream vacation or destination?
I have only been to New York City once in my life, but I would love to go back. My dream vacation would include seeing every play on Broadway, off-Broadway and off-off Broadway. I would fill the daytime intermissions with visiting the many historical sites and shopping until I drop!

What do you like best about your hometown?
I am very proud to say that Ellisville is the perfect blend of the old and the new. Not only do we have historical sites, but also a technology park that holds many opportunities for economic growth. It's important to remember the past while advancing toward a bright future, and that is something my hometown never forgets.

What do you like best about the state of Mississippi, besides our food & hospitality?
I like the quality of life here within the state of Mississippi. A Mississippian has the best of both worlds, country life with easy access to a large city. I also like the geographical diversity that our state has to offer. From the flatlands of the Delta to the Pine Belt where I proudly reside, I like that a trip through our state provides a picturesque landscape.

What's in your CD player or on your iPod right now?
I always have a variety of music in my cd player and within my iPod. There is no one style of music that I enjoy more than another. From Broadway hits to country music, I prefer a diversity of styles across the musical spectrum!

Where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years, I hope either to be working with a medical rehabilitation clinic as a speech therapist or to have my own consultation clinic. I would like to specialize within my field to provide a variety of clinical services to both children and adults while balancing my career and family

Who am I?
What do a fisherwoman and a pageant title holder have in common? In my case, it is a great pair of sparkling earrings. Whether fishing at the pond or walking across a stage, I will never have naked ears. This May my earrings and I will graduate Summa Cum Laude from the Honors College at the University of Southern Mississippi. My desire to help others by improving their quality of life led me to my career choice of speech-language pathology. What a gift each one of us has in the ability to speak. Communicating --the power to convey ideas, thoughts, and feelings--is a powerful tool that sometimes we take for granted. As a professional, I hope to aid someone in restoring their quality of life.

Tell us about your occupational experience.
I have had both the opportunity and the privilege to work at a pharmacy that has been in Ellisville since 1886. Not only does it have antiques on display but also a soda fountain that is truly magical. To see the sparkle in the eyes of children, both the young and the young at heart, as they come in and enjoy a homemade malt at the fountain is like taking a step back in time. It is such a vital part of our community with customers that feel like family. We know our customers by name, and the fact that generations of families continue to use our store, says something about our wonderful customer service. I have loved the experience of working there since I was fifteen. In fact, the pharmacy holds a special place in my heart because it is where my parents met. It has been a unique experience that has not only taught me to appreciate the past but also valuable lessons that I can carry to any career field. At the pharmacy, we are there to serve the community and so each customer is treated with kindness and respect. I also saw that same compassion while working for a speech therapy department this past summer. It allowed me to see what my future occupation would be like on a daily basis. Seeing the difference that speech-language pathologists can make in the lives of both children and adults, as well as their families, inspired me to continue my path towards my career goals. My current job of working at the Admissions Office for the University of Southern Mississippi has been my easiest and most rewarding job of all. My job allows me to meet prospective students and tour them around our campus. I take such pride in USM that sharing my love for my university to a prospective student is both a joy and a pleasure. I am very proud to have had the opportunity to work in a variety of settings. But, no matter the occupation, one thing remains the same. Every job has taught me something and therefore, molded me into a better person.

Tell us about your platform.
Did you know that one person has the power to save or improve the lives of 50-75 people through both organ and tissue donation? This cause impacts people of all ages. Currently, there are over 98,000 people awaiting some form of transplant, yet each day, approximately 18 people die on that waiting list. Becoming a donor is a simple process. I have taken the opportunity to speak out on behalf of organ and tissue donation in order not only to raise awareness but also to dispel the myths. By speaking at support group meetings and other community groups, I have met families of both donors and recipients. Even through loss, most donor families realize that they are giving back that quality of life to another human being. Working with this platform for many years, I have identified a continuing need for ongoing education. If people would become familiar with this issue and the good that comes from it, so many more lives would be saved. Encouraging people to take part in this selfless act could truly be the greatest gift they could give someone: the gift of life.