What’s the difference between the Miss USA and Miss America pageants?

The main difference between Miss USA and Miss America is that Miss America has a talent portion of the competition along with the on-stage interview, swimsuit and evening gown competition while focusing more on scholarship. Miss USA focuses more on the evening gown, swimsuit, and interview competitions, while emphasizing personal beauty and fitness. It also tends to be geared more towards philanthropy, fashion, entertainment, and acting as the starting point for women hoping to pursue a life in the limelight.

How has working at the Columbus Chick-fil-A helped you prepare to be Miss Alabama USA?

I am currently in a managing position at Chick-fil-A here in Columbus, Ga. When you are in that type of position, you learn quickly what it means to “set the example” and to model the way for those who look up to you and aspire to do what you do one day. When you are a leader, you learn what it means to inspire and lead a team to success and those attributes have been most beneficial to me in preparing for Miss Alabama USA. You can’t be a representative for an entire state -- yet the whole nation -- without knowledge on what it really means to be a leader.

What about living in Phenix City will stick with you the rest of your life?

There is nothing like growing up in a small town and feeling like you know everybody who lives within a five-mile radius of you. Going to Friday night football games, going to the flea market on Saturday, passing by BoomTown Fireworks on Highway 280, Mike and Ed’s BBQ in Smiths Station and so many more things. I might travel and maybe even live in the bigger cities around the nation, but home is where the heart is.

What is your ultimate cause or goal in life?

I just want to make a positive difference in the lives of those around me in whatever I do and wherever I go. I feel that my platform as Miss Alabama USA will allow me to meet a wide array of people, and the best part about that is that I will be able to show who I really am and just love and care for everyone just like Jesus does. At the end of the day I am just a girl from Phenix City, Ala., with a crown and a sash, but through Christ, I am a representative for him and what being a Christian really means.

What’s the Columbus area’s best-kept secret?

The history! There are a lot of historically significant landmarks in our area, especially in downtown Columbus and Phenix City that I didn’t really know anything about until I had a history project in college that required me to visit all the locations that had landmarks on them. It was so fascinating to me! Did you know that Phenix City used to be referred to as “Sin City, USA” in the 1940s and ’50s? I really encourage those who haven’t taken the time to find out about our town’s history to do so because it will bring an appreciation and an understanding about how we came to where we are now in present day Columbus and Phenix City.