University of Alabama student Jessica Proctor won the 2017 Miss Alabama pageant and will represent the state in the 2018 Miss America pageants. Proctor is studying interdisciplinary studies and psychology at UA and is very involved in the community with projects such as “Step Up To The Plate,” which partners with West Alabama Food Bank.

Proctor is one of 10 women who are current, former, or future students of The University of Alabama who have participated in the Miss Alabama pageant. Another UA student will compete in the Miss America competition as well. Briana Kinsley, who won the Miss D.C. pageant, will join Proctor in Atlantic City, New Jersey for the 97th Miss America competition in September.

“I think the Miss Alabama pageants bring good publicity to the University,” said Brittney Simonson, a senior majoring in public relations. “It shows that we have students that are dedicated to helping the community and upholding positive values.”

Miss Alabama provides scholarship money to competition winners as early as the teenage competitions.  Proctor has received around $42,000 in cash scholarships from winning Outstanding Teen for Miss Alabama previously. Past competitors have even been able to entirely pay off their undergraduate tuition costs with scholarship money earned in Miss Alabama competitions.

The competitions have made an impact in many people’s lives financially and otherwise. Beyond scholarship money, Miss Alabama also creates relationships, helps contestants learn to maintain composure and introduces them to community service projects that they often become invested in.

Chandler Shields, who participated in Miss Alabama as representative of the Tennessee Valley, described how the pageants have molded her life and how the organization has helped her to connect to what she is passionate about.

“Pageants like the Miss America Organization equip women with a skill set that is different than any other leadership building organization,” Shields said. “With the platform of service, I discovered my passion of serving the Down Syndrome community. My passion has evolved from a simple passion into an organized advocacy effort with the National Down Syndrome Society in Washington D.C.”

Shields plans on moving to Washington D.C. to begin a career on Capitol Hill.

The Miss America pageant has also impacted individuals close to its competitors. Brittney Van Sandt has had multiple sorority sisters participate in Miss Alabama, and has seen the positive impact the competition has on the participants.

“Miss Alabama really gave them an opportunity to grow in a positive way,” Van Sandt said.  “The girls in my sorority were impacted in a great way and I feel it is no different than anyone else who participates.”