I began as an anxious seven year old in 2004. Mom and I essentially had no idea what we were walking into, but after placing in top ten my first year and being in absolute awe of the state and national queens I met, I was hooked.
The next few years, I would repeatedly do my personal introduction as a daily ritual and practice like a good little pageant girl. I moved up to fourth runner up the next year and first runner up the next. Once I moved into the Preteen division as a ten year old, I made top ten as one of the youngest in my division (with my precious blonde boyfriend of the time in the audience--I felt like hot stuff, let me tell you).
NAM AL 2007 state pageant: the annual formal pose
In 2008, I remember working harder than ever before. I focused on interview more than ever and always strived to make the judges laugh. My dress was from a local consignment shop by my house, and it was the first time I'd ever worn white. Here began my addiction to white dresses: 2008 was my first year to capture a state title, and my crowning moment was the definition of the "ugly cry" face.
Okay... yeah... we've come a long way since '08...
As we trekked off to Hollywood for the national pageant, I never knew that I would meet two girls I would call my best friends for years afterward. Of course, being from Alabama, my next door state neighbor of Georgia became my southern accomplice. Victoria and I have befriended each other's friends at home and have remained close for nearly six years along with our cross-country San Diego beauty queen Tierra. As the South California representative, Tierra won the national title of National American Miss Preteen after placing first runner up twice before.
Friends who do pageants together (and are weird together)...
stay together.
These two girls are prime examples of the beauty of pageant friendship. No matter how far they lived, we made Christmas visits whenever possible and are still so close to this day (Tierra and I actually planned to be college roommates if I had gone to NYU, and she is currently taking on New York City as an aspiring, and sure to be successful, journalist).
NAM AL 2010 state pageant: oh, those lovely opening numbers poses!
After crowning my successor in 2009, I was back to competing for my state title. I had always wondered why girls who won their state title once would come back again, and some may think it's another attempt to win the national title. That is, of course, very true. A NAM national title is a dream of most girls', but it goes so much farther than that. I kept on because the experience is intoxicating. Being on stage is one of the most indescribable feelings, and I can only begin to describe all that I've learned in the past ten years.The next three years, I competed for my state title in the Jr. Teen division, placing in top ten, second runner up, and then fourth runner up. As discouraging as it was to place lower that final year, I did not consider "retiring" because of that discouragement. I was approaching college preparation years and felt that I needed to focus my full attention on my future. And then, after considering myself "retired from pageantry" during that next year, the craziest thing that has ever happened to me occurred at the 2014 state pageant.
I originally went to help some younger girls who my mom and I had prepared (you would not believe how many girls we have gotten into NAM--we are walking billboards for the organization). The first night we arrived, mom leaned over to me and said, "So... why don't you just compete?" And so, long story short, we entered the next morning and had a friend bring down an old gown, interview dress and shoes, and I was all of a sudden out of retirement and back at it again! I wrote my introduction the night before, went over my walk that was basically muscle memory from so many times before, and on June 9, 2014, I was crowned the National American Miss Alabama Teen 2014.
I often wish I could relive that crowning moment on stage because the shock made it all such a blur. I have never felt so confident that God put me here with such strange circumstances I was crowned in. For nine years, I had worked for months in advance for that one summer weekend, and then I won with no stressful preparation and simply having fun and being myself .
Then, a few weeks later, I received a selfie from Victoria with her new Georgia Teen crown and sash! Victoria and I are now preparing to embark on NAM Nationals take two and cannot wait to reunite with the other third of our friendship when Tierra flies from New York to the national pageant as well. This, my friends, is what fate looks like.
I suppose I could say that a lot happened in my time of retirement in terms of self-discovery, but I know for a fact that National American Miss shaped me into the young woman I am today. I have learned the communication skills that undoubtedly gave me success in my Montevallo interview and now has me a free college education. I am in love with public speaking and take every chance I have to tell others my story and encourage them to take part in the amazing pageant system that changed my life for the better. Most importantly, I believe, National American Miss taught me to love myself. Promoting that All-American girl ideal of a young woman who is true to herself and devoted to changing lives is what set the passion in my heart on fire for this organization.
Through high school I struggled for years with negative body-image and constantly comparing myself to others, but I now know that being an inspirational person does not require you to be a size two. Serving others does not require you to look like that ideal "pageant girl."
I have never felt more prepared for a pageant than I am for nationals this Thanksgiving, and that is not just because I have been practicing for months already. It's because I love who I am, and I am proud to promote myself to anyone who will listen because I know my passions and I am dedicated to showing girls that self-love is the best love one can possess. With my platform with the American Heart Association, I have adopted the ideas of living a heart-healthy lifestyle and being good to the body you are blessed with, and that a healthy lifestyle is what leads to a positive body-image.
Sept. 2014 Promoting heart-healthy lifestyle and positive
body-image with the American Heart Association
Dropping my Nick Saban portrait at Alabama's athletic facility for a signature;
I'll be auctioning it off soon for AHA!
Outstanding Savannah. You are such a gifted young lady!!!
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