By I. Hansana, Jadetimes News
Miss Kansas Alexis Smith Shows Bravery in Revealing Abuser's Presence During Pageant
Winning a pageant requires more than beauty and talent, as demonstrated by the newly crowned Miss Kansas, Alexis Smith, who displayed remarkable bravery during the competition.
Last month, Smith shocked the judges during her final interview by revealing that her abuser was in the audience, underscoring the importance of her platform to “eliminate unhealthy and abusive relationships.” Despite the emotional challenge, Smith maintained her composure in a sparkly azure dress when asked about her vision as Miss Kansas. “Some of you out in this audience saw me very emotional because my abuser is here today,” she said. “But that’s not going to stop me from being on this Miss Kansas stage and from representing as the next Miss Kansas, because I and my community deserve healthy relationships.” Her statement was met with applause and cheers.
In an Instagram post a month after her victory, Smith provided further context, explaining that on the night of the pageant, “someone I have been healing from tried to disrupt my peace.” She wrote, “Instead of falling into silence, I chose to live out my vision for a better world. I took back my power not just for myself, but for my dreams and everyone watching and listening.” Smith expressed her readiness to use her story and resources to end unhealthy relationships in all forms.
In an interview with local Wichita TV station KSN, Smith revealed that domestic violence has affected every woman in her family. She shared that her first relationship, which began when she was 14 and lasted until 2018 or 2019, was abusive. “It’s something that I’m still experiencing and dealing with today,” she told KSN, emphasizing that “domestic violence does not discriminate.”
Smith plans to use her platform to continue speaking out against domestic violence in Kansas and beyond. Earlier in the Miss Kansas competition, Smith, who is also an ICU nurse, won preliminary competitions in both health and fitness and talent, performing a ventriloquism act with two puppets. As the state winner, she was awarded over $15,000 in scholarships. Smith and other state winners will compete for the Miss America crown in January.
