Story by Sara Howell, Features Editor
Photo courtesy of Lauren Campbell
Having competed in 15 pageants before, the first runner-up of the Miss Kentucky United States pageant was humbled and ready to take the stage.
Lauren Campbell, senior and public relations major from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, competed in the “Miss” division of the Miss Kentucky United States pageant and was named first runner-up and most photogenic.
The Mrs. United States National Pageants, Inc. is a competition for women and girls aged eight years or older grounded in the vision of its founder, Isabella Ilacqua, according to its website.
This competition provides its competitors with an enriching journey of multi-faceted personal growth through local, state and national pageants. There are eight different age divisions throughout the pageants.
These divisions are Little Miss (8-9 years old), Pre Teen, (10-12 years old), Jr. Teen (13-15 years old), Teen (16-19 years old), Miss (20-29 years old), Ms. (20-35 years old), Ms. Woman (35+ years old) and Mrs. (21+ years old).
Campbell competed at the state level after winning the Purchase District preliminary competition.
“I went representing Purchase District and that is a preliminary for Miss Kentucky United States,” Campbell said. “The Miss Kentucky United States is a preliminary to Mrs. United States in Las Vegas.”
There were 12 other girls in her age division and 74 total representing various places throughout Kentucky, but not everyone had won a preliminary like Campbell.
“This was the first time I had been to Miss Kentucky United States,” Campbell said. “Last summer I did a preliminary in Louisville and didn’t win so I didn’t go. I could have, I just chose not to.”
She said the pageant was judged on 25 percent interview, 25 percent on-stage questions, 25 percent evening gown and 25 percent bathing suit.
“Once you make the top five like I did, you answer the on-stage questions,” Campbell said.
She said she has been competing in pageants since she was 13. In Hopkinsville, there is a pageant system called the Miss Kentucky County Fair, which she hascompeted in for about four years.
“This pageant was really awesome,” Campbell said. “I personally love the system because they honor service and public speaking so much. It’s really not completely about beauty, which I appreciate.”
The competition began on Feb. 15 at Van Meter Hall on Western Kentucky University’s campus and went on for the whole weekend. Campbell arrived on Friday for registration and to hear a motivational speaker. Saturday morning the competitors had a rehearsal, then had to be back at 5 p.m. for interviews. There was another rehearsal on Sunday morning with some time for last-minute preparations before the competition began at 5:30 p.m.
“It’s set up to make sure everyone has a really good time,” Campbell said. “I wasn’t stressed and it didn’t feel cutthroat, so it was a really good experience.”
She said she felt like the United States system was the perfect match for her because she really enjoys public speaking, interviewing and the idea that it’s not centered all around beauty.
“I think a beautiful woman is defined by more than what they look like,” Campbell said. “I personally believe that inner beauty and your heart has a lot to do with how beautiful you are and the organization really stands for that.”
Though she was anxious going into it, Campbell said she felt really confident and prepared.
“These pageants have had a huge role in making me who I am today as far as confidence and public speaking goes,” Campbell said.
Molly Matney, Miss Kentucky 2017 and WKU student from Metcalfe County, Kentucky, met Campbell a few years ago at the Miss Kentucky County Fair pageant.
“We instantly clicked,” Matney said. “We stood near each other in the lineup of 80 girls and had so much fun together.”
She said it was fun watching Campbell succeed because she knows what a sweet, genuine person she is.
“She is the real deal and the perfect role model for girls everywhere,” Matney said. “She rocked the stage and you could tell she was really having fun up there.”
She said pageants like these are important and relevant because they truly mold you into a better version of yourself and the lifelong friends you make along the way are a great bonus, too.