I can still remember the moment when I won my Miss Congeniality Award last year like it was yesterday! The top five had already been announced and the new Miss Alabama USA was about to be crowned. The last award that was announced before the crowning moment was the Miss Congeniality Award! I hadn't placed and I definitely didn't think that I was going to win an award! I was okay with that though because I was there to have fun and to be a voice for people with disabilities like me. The other reason that I was there was because I wanted to spread a positive message about overcoming obstacles. I had done everything that I had set to do and more so I felt that the pageant was already a success! Little did I know, there was one more big surprise headed my way!
The host had already announced the winners of the other two awards. Finally, the host announced that I was the winner of the Miss Congeniality Award! I was in total and utter shock! I went from denial to realizing that my name was actually called out! For a moment I didn't even move to accept my award until my friend McKenzie nudged me to go. When I finally got up to the front of the stage, I felt so humbled that all of my other thirty-three friends that I had met that weekend, voted for me for that amazing award! I almost cried right there on the spot! To be honest, any of those other girls that I was competing with that weekend, could have just as easily have won that award because they were so sweet to me and they welcomed me to the pageant with open arms. I will never forget that!
Winning that award means so much to me because it showed me that taking a leap of faith like I did with doing the pageant in the first place, can pay off in big ways! I knew going into this, God had opened the door to this new experience for me so that I could be a light for his glory. Even though, I was absolutely terrified about doing Miss Alabama USA! This award also reminds to always be kind to everyone around me because I never know who might need a smile or a positive word. All of these young ladies are incredible people and I am so blessed to have them as friends in my life now! This award also reminds me of an incredible weekend that I will never forget for the rest of my life!
Tonight, a new Miss Congeniality Award winner will be announced and a new Miss Alabama USA will be crowned! Even though I am not competing this year, I sincerely hope that whoever takes over my reign as Miss Congeniality cherishes this prestigious award as much as I do! I want to thank everyone who supported me in so many ways last year in order for that moment to happen! My Miss Alabama USA journey could not of happened if it had not been for the support of so many friends, family, and even people who don't even know me! I will never take it for granted!
This is me accepting my award!
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