Miss Heartland, Miss Metro Jackson,
Miss MidSouth and Outstanding Teen Preliminary Pageants
Danielle Smith
Miss MidSouth 2010
What was your most embarrassing moment?
During talent rehearsal during the 2007 Miss Mississippi Pageant, I experienced my first wardrobe malfunction. I was at the end of my routine in my gorgeous gold and red costume, doing my last turn sequence of my routine. I lifted my arms coming from the back turning to the front and my costume dropped in front me. The room was packed with pageant staff, stage crew, contestants, and directors!
What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
Going shopping at Harry Mayer’s, a specialty store in Meridian and charging it to the family account is always my guilty pleasure.
What is your favorite movie and why?
Steel Magnolias, is my all time favorite movie. I have always enjoyed and somewhat related to the personality of Shelby, played by Julia Roberts. I also love the character, Weezer, who keeps me laughing throughout the movie.
What is your favorite color and why?
No Answer Given
What do you like to do for fun... relaxation... recreation?
Spending time and mentoring young girls in my hometown helps keep my life fun and carefree. I find it very relaxing to go on a walk with my dog, Sicily; with the iPod in my ears and a spiritual mind set. In my spare time, you most likely will find my at the park with some type of ball, enjoying the moments living an active lifestyle.
What would be your dream vacation or destination?
I hope to one day travel to Italy and immerse myself in their culture.
What do you like best about your hometown?
Meridian’s Hope Village Carousel horses around town are landmarks and are sponsored yearly by businesses and individuals. They are decorated by local and regional artists to add culture and fun and financially support and benefit the Hope Village for Children project.
What do you like best about the state of Mississippi?
Mississippi might best be thought of as a living example of “not to judge a book by its cover.” To the world, our stereotypes make us seem like a state that is poor, repressed, and still struggling with our past; however the www.mississippibelieveit.com website shows all that Mississippians have contributed to the world in terms of music artists (blues, country, etc.), performing the first heart, lung and kidney transplants, and per capita, we give more to others than any other state! Mississippi? You better believe it!
What’s in your CD player or on your iPod right now?
I enjoy listening to all types of music VH1’s Top 20, country, pop, and some oldies, not to forget rock. Right now on my iPod is the popular song by Miley Cyrus, “Party in the U.S.A.” along with a variety of music!
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years, I see myself being a proud graduate of Mississippi State University and attending events as an alumnus. My primary goal is to have served as Miss America and as a spokesperson to educate others on the benefits of the option for adoption. I also plan to write a motivational book encouraging people to pursue their dreams. Starting my foundation for my family in a quiet town, not too small but just large enough for me to continue to share my passion for affecting others lives every place that I go.
Who am I?
I view myself as a traveler on a journey through life that is filled with surprises and great expectations. So far, my personal life’s journey has taught me to be independent, hopeful, and to make my parents proud. I am self-motivated, determined to succeed at all things and am completely competitive with myself.
I also recognize the human side of me and know my own limitations. I am terrified of spiders and avoid any place that one might be lurking. I love to shop, but do not like chocolate. I am passionate about my friendships and know I must schedule time to be with my friends, who bring out the adventurous side of me. I like to be in control of my surroundings, but am flexible enough to recognize when I am hurt, scared, or homesick. And I rely on my parents to help me get my footing back when I fall. I consider my dad to be my knight in shining armor and my mom is my best friend and backbone of our family.
Setting priorities is of the utmost importance to me, and although I sometimes push myself too hard in many areas, I enjoy time to myself to think, rest, and just be me. Most of all at the end of my journey, I see myself as an accomplished young woman who worked hard to dream, achieve, and experience all that life has to offer.
Tell us about your occupation?
For several years I have been employed by my university, Mississippi State University, as a student worker in the Office of the President. This is a great experience because not only is it a great learning experience but it has opened doors to meet and assist alumni, business leaders, and other students.
Platform
Option for Adoption-
On May 21st, 1986, I was blessed with the most precious gift anyone could ever ask for - my parents. This was the day they adopted me, chose me, and brought me into their home. They have loved and encouraged me from the very beginning and have helped establish the foundation on which my beliefs and gifts are built. They helped me grow and truly develop the special parts of my life, including my dancing. This is how I express myself and inspire others.
I wanted to create an educational opportunity that relates to my background in dance and gives back to others. With Option for Adoption as my platform, I began Hip Hop for Hope, which is an independent fundraiser for the Bethany Christian Service, a non-profit adoption agency. Hip Hop for Hope is a hip hop dance workshop that I coordinate asking for donations from the dance students. In these workshops I share with them my gift of dancing and how together we can offer hope to others. I take the monetary income from my independent workshops and then donate that to the agency to support others.
Through my program, I am able to teach others to dance, and share my happiness with them. But more importantly the program also teaches them to discover themselves through dance, and express their own happiness as well. This program gives me the opportunity to educate children and parents about the benefits of adoption and the gifts one gives and receives by adopting a child.
Taylor-Beth Cook
Miss Midsouth Outstanding Teen
2010
What was your most embarrassing moment?
My most embarrassing moment happened during my talent in a pageant. I had forgotten to put one of the straps on. In the beginning of the dance I looked down, it was down a little more than it should've been. I quickly did a turn, made an adjustment to my costume, quickly reversed my choreography and finished my dance successfully.
What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
My guilty pleasure is CHOCOLATE! I just love it. My favorite is the Lindor Truffles. I get just one pack every year for Christmas, and it lasts maybe and hour!
What is your favorite movie and why?
My favorite movie is The Blind Side. That movie shows that no matter where you came from, you can be great and do awesome things. It also shows that there is nothing more special than your family.
What is your favorite color and why?
My favorite color is pink! Pink is just bright and cheery just like me. I love to wear it, and I do all the time. I just think it makes people smile, and at the end of the day, that's all that matters!
What do you like to do for fun, relaxation or recreation?
I love to do so many different things for recreation, but here are just a few. I love playing tennis, reading, hanging out with Buddy, playing board games, playing trivia games, puzzles, just talking with friends, drawing, and playing with my dogs. One thing that I really love to do is take walks. I love taking walks through the woods and just spend time with God and enjoy His beautiful creation we call Mississippi.
What would be your dream vacation or destination?
I have always wanted to go to the Cook Islands. It seems to be a beautiful place, and it's so cool that it's my last name, Cook.
What do you like best about your hometown?
I love my hometown because it is a small town. Everybody knows everybody...we're all like one big family.
What do you like best about the state of Mississippi?
What I love about Mississippi is the pure beauty and historical aspect of it. Mississippi is full of amazing and interesting history that I just love. I am so blessed to live in such a wonderful place.
What's in your CD player or on your iPod right now?
My iPod has such a variety of songs on it because I love all types of music. I have songs from Broadway, Rascal Flatts, and of course you can't forget Taylor Swift. I also have Blues, Classical, Pop and absolutely Rock and Roll.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years I can see myself as a youth director. I love to connect, help people, and have a relationship with them as they grow. While having fun at the same time, doing that is a dream job for me.
Who am I?
I live in Vicksburg, Mississippi, where I attended Warren Central High school as a freshmen now going to be a sophomore. One of my favorite classes in school is Mississippi history. I feel honored to live in a state that has been through so much in the past and is still standing proudly. There is a wonderful choral department at my school, which I am also a part of as a member of the Women’s Choir. I am also a varsity cheerleader and a member of the school’s tennis team.
Here are some of the things I do outside of school. I take ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical classes at Vicksburg Dance Studio. At GymSouth I am a part of their tumbling program. Running or walking my dogs is another thing that I enjoy to do. I also swim and do a lot of babysitting in the summer. Pretty much anything that is active and helps keep me healthy is something that I love to do.
I am also active in many other organizations. One of those organizations is Red Cord. Through Red Cord I am able to do volunteer work at many different places all throughout my community. Another organization that I am a part of is WUWD teen coalition. The teen coalition works in the community by doing rallies and fun activities to help fight teen alcohol and drug abuse. I am also an active member of the Presbyterian Hand On Youth program. In this program we do fund raisers for our church, maintenance jobs around the church, put on dinners for the adults, do community service, and spread the Christian faith throughout our community.
Occupation?
The only job that I have ever done is babysitting. Babysitting has taught me very many lessons about how to handle young children and respecting other adults wishes. Having to take care of a house and children that aren’t yours is sometimes a hard responsibility. Also caring young children has taught me patience. Babysitting requires a lot of it, and you don’t realize that until you are actually in a situation that requires it. The job also keeps me extremely active! Playing hide and go seek, tag, and cars takes a lot of energy out of you. The other main thing that babysitting has taught me is to just love life. That you should not have to be entertained all the time. Some of the best moments of my life is when me and two kids just sat in their yard and watch the stars. So no matter what you do, love and live life to the fullest!
Tell us about your platform.
For a long time I had no idea what my Platform should be. I did research and talked to countless of people who all had great suggestions, but nothing ever seemed to feel right. I wanted to believe in what I was trying to promote, and to have a passion in what I was saying. Just saying something to sound good and to fit in, is not something that I believe in. Finally, I just decided to stop looking for one, and just let God bring it to me. So one day I was sitting in my bedroom reading an article in a fashion magazine and something hit me. The article was about teen eating disorders, depression, and stress that was all caused by one main problem. That main problem is trying to look perfect. It was then I realized that my Platform, and what I should stand for was a positive teen body image.
Wherever you look you see pictures of perfect men and women. Teens everywhere feel the pressure of looking perfect. They think those models in those pictures have perfect faces, bodies, and hair. What they don’t realize is that at least half of that picture was digitally enhanced and modified to make it look the way it does. Teens look up to the famous actors, fashion models, and singers as role models. When teens see their role models in pictures and they look perfect, most teens feel that they have to look that way also. So many teens put themselves down because they are not what the media calls “beautiful”, and what teens do not realize is the “beautiful” that they strive so hard to be does not even exist.
The average American fashion model’s dress size is two. This statistic alone puts stress on the American teenager whose average dress size is a size eight. This stress often leads teens to look for other alternatives to get to their desired weight or look. One alternative that five million Americans take is turning to eating disorders. Ninety-five percent of that five million who suffer from a disorder are women. Another alternative that is becoming more popular among the average teenager is plastic surgery. The number of teenagers getting plastic surgery in high school has doubled since 2002.
I am reaching out to these teens and letting them know that they are beautiful. Every person is beautiful in their own special way. Being beautiful can mean having a kind heart, a quick mind, or also many other things. God made each and every one of us unique. People need to realize that beauty starts on the inside, not the out.
