Beginning Wednesday, 46 women from around the Natural State will compete for the title of Miss Arkansas at the state pageant in Hot Springs. Ashton Campbell, last year's winner and second runner-up at the Miss America Pageant, will crown the new Miss Arkansas on July 11.
Originally from Hindsville, Campbell, 21, has spent her reign as Miss Arkansas traveling the state serving as Arkansas' spokeswoman for the Children's Miracle Network and Arkansas Children's Hospital. Campbell also spent the year speaking to high school students about her personal platform, "Aim Higher: Setting our Sights on Higher Education." Her goal was to make an appearance at every high school in the state to encourage all Arkansas students to pursue furthering their education. Wrapping up her year of service with the Miss America Organization, Campbell will return to the University of Arkansas, where she is a junior studying business administration.
FAQ
Miss Arkansas Pageant
WHEN — Wednesday through July 11
WHERE — Bank of the Ozarks Arena in Hot Springs
COST — $26 & up for each preliminary night; $37 & up for crowning; live stream PPV, $5 each preliminary night, $7 Saturday
INFO — missarkansas.org
In addition to a new Miss Arkansas, viewers can expect a change in this year's competition. The judges will be giving out fewer preliminary awards, instead of one for all three categories.
"The Miss America Organization is changing that up this year to avoid having one girl winning all [the preliminaries] and then doesn't win the pageant," says Kathy McClure, executive director of the Miss Lakes of the Northwest and Miss Frisco Springs pageants in Rogers.
Most of the other new changes are happening behind the scenes.
"It seems like the girls get more and more furnished each year -- swimsuits, evening gowns -- and that really helps them and their parents financially," McClure says. "But one of the biggest things this year is that the rehearsals are closed. The only people allowed in the room besides the judges [during talent rehearsals] is one executive director and maybe a mom." McClure says limiting access to the rehearsals will take a lot of pressure off the contestants and make the entire process quicker and smoother.
Tickets are still on sale online, but you can also watch all of the glamour next week on the live stream at missarkansas.org.
Local contestants representing the northwestern region of the Natural State include:
Miss Dogwood
Leslie Benford
Platform: Media literacy education
Talent: Baton twirling
Age: 23
Hometown: Springdale
School: University of Arkansas
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Miss Frisco Springs
Destiny Quinn
Platform: The Forgotten Ones: Improving the Plight of Children in Foster Care
Talent: Tap Dance
Age: 20
Hometown: Jonesboro
School: Arkansas State University
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Miss Heart of the Ozarks
Maggie Benton
Platform: Giving Is a Gift: It is Better to Give Than to Receive
Talent: Vocal
Age: 20
Hometown: Jonesboro
School: University of Arkansas
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Miss Lakes of the Northwest
Mason Magouyrk
Platform: Armed with Awareness: Aware That Guns Are There
Talent: Vocal
Age: 22
Hometown: Batesville
School: University of Arkansas
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Miss Madison County
Katie Crow
Platform: We Bleed Green: Getting Back to the Heart of America
Talent: Vocal
Age: 21
Hometown: Huntsville
School: University of Arkansas
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Miss Northwest Arkansas
Loren McDaniel
Platform: Confidently You
Talent: Vocal
Age: 22
Hometown: Van Buren
School: University of Arkansas
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Miss University of Arkansas
Brejamin Perkins
Platform: Don't Lessen Expression: Keeping the Arts in Education
Talent: Tap
Age: 23
Hometown: North Little Rock
School: University of Arkansas
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Miss UAFS
Joni Fields-Adams
Platform: Project: Unforgotten
Talent: Jazz Dance
Age: 20
Hometown: Fort Smith
School: University of Arkansas at Fort Smith
NAN What's Up on 07/03/2015