Miss North Central Mississippi is a perfectly poised picture of style and grace, but her sharp wit, cultivated intelligence and disciplined focus make Caitlyn Smith, 19, the contestant to dispel the old-fashioned stereotype beauty pageants — now called scholarship programs — are all about looks.
The daughter of Rep. Jeff Smith, D-Lowndes, and Dr. Laura Smith, Caitlyn Smith is studying at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., tutoring children at Heritage Academy, and preparing to represent the Golden Triangle in the Miss Mississippi pageant, held in July in Vicksburg.
How did you get involved in pageants? What attracts you to them?
I ultimately became involved in pageants after my experience with (the) Junior Miss (pageant), although I participated in my high school”s beauty review at the varsity level. I have grown up being such a tomboy, and it”s nice to feel feminine and beautiful on stage. What draws me the most to pageants is of course the scholarship money for college, but more importantly, the exposure they can bring to me. I have the opportunity to set a good example and be a role model for those around me, not necessarily limited to those younger than me.
Tell me about the pageants in which you”ve participated and the ones you have coming up?
I participated in the America”s Junior Miss circuit, although if anyone associated with Junior Miss heard the term “pageant,” they would be sure to set you straight! I was Lowndes County”s and Mississippi”s Junior Miss in 2007, and I currently hold the title of Miss North Central Mississippi 2009. I will be in the Miss Mississippi pageant, which is a part of the Miss America organization.
How do you prepare for a pageant?
I use lots of self-tanner. Ha! I have always lived an active, if not the healthiest, lifestyle, so my main focus in the past few years has been and still is to buy healthier, organic foods, while eliminating unnecessary sugars and overly processed foods. I have a set workout routine which incorporates weight training, sprints, long runs, yoga and swimming. I have mock interviews scheduled where I am critiqued and I keep up with current events via the news — preferably (on the) Fox (network) — my coach and my father. When your dad is a politician, it”s a lot easier to be involved and alert.
Have you had stage fright?
I do not become nervous. The only time I have ever been nervous in my life was actually last week when I gave blood for the first time; that was much harder for me than playing the piano or singing for an audience. When I go on stage, my thoughts are streamlined enough to focus on one goal, and that goal is to do the best I possibly can and leave knowing I could have done nothing better.
What is the most challenging aspect of being a contestant?
I would like to shake the hand of any woman who can go into a room full of 46 other beautiful, talented women and then leave with her confidence untouched. It is tough meeting the eyes of your competition, knowing that she is almost certainly “sizing you up.” In addition to this, I grew up the youngest of four children; I have always tried to act older and think like an adult, even as a child. It is often hard for me to relate to people, especially girls, my own age.
What qualities do you feel are important for a contestant to have?
It is important, and not unfeasible, to be well-rounded for any pageant or competition of this type. Beauty is a prerequisite, but a good talent and a good mind are essential to the success of any contestant. Intelligence will benefit you in the interview; physical fitness will prepare you for the bathing suit (competition) and give you an overall sense of confidence, and a good talent — singing, playing an instrument, dancing — complete the package.
What have you learned through your pageant work which has helped you in your life?
My interview skills not only improved through my involvement in scholarship programs, they wore born! I had never even given an interview until my experience with Junior Miss, at the age of 16. Since then, I have given countless interviews, and my private, as well as public speaking skills, have blossomed. I am so thankful for the compliments, as well as the criticism. Everyone who has critiqued me in one way or another has made me stronger and better capable of handling interview and speaking situations that I most assuredly will face later in life.
Can you address some of the stereotypes surrounding pageants and those who participate? What are some things about the experience you wish more people knew about or understood?
When one thinks about a “pageant girl,” the image of a “beauty without the brains” almost instantly comes to mind. My goal is to overcome such a stipulation; many of these girls are not only talented, but they are also physically active, well-spoken, and beautiful! What sane man would not want to marry a pageant girl? Honestly though, it bothers me that contestants in pageants do not always receive the credit that they deserve. Of course, there are girls who participate in scholarship programs of various types while being either ignorant of their surroundings or uninterested in an education, but that is a very small percentage.
Tell me about your platform.
My platform is Preventing Obesity in Young Mississippians. Obesity is a prevalent issue in both the youth and the adults of Mississippi, and I agree with (Gov.) Haley Barbour, (who said) obesity can be prevented when children are encouraged at an early level to lead active, healthy lifestyles. I am a prime example. I played every sport I could in high school, and I grew up as the youngest of a family of swimmers. I thank my parents for introducing me to sports at such a young age because it has helped me become more active and physically productive as a young woman. I am actually training for a half-marathon right now that will be at the end of April in Nashville.
What changes, if any, would you like to see made in the beauty pageant industry?
I would like politics to be left out of the equation, and I would rather prefer that individuals who win pageants would ultimately deserve the title.
What plans do you have for the future?
Well, I can”t exactly say that I plan to win Miss Mississippi, but that is my ultimate hope. I am an English and classics major, with an emphasis on Latin, and an Italian minor, so I would love to be able to practice law or work internationally. I plan on studying abroad. I visited my sister in Germany over spring break, and I fell in love. I want to be as culturally literate as possible. I will probably be in school five years from now, but my main desire is to simply remain alive if God so predetermines it and to make the most out of my abilities.
What advice do you have for children (and the parents of children) who wish to follow in your footsteps?
Don”t ever let your children quit practicing voice lessons, dance lessons, piano or other instrumental lessons, gymnastics, etc. These talents will be valued greatly in the future and they are abilities that will last for a lifetime. I would advise against taking pageants so seriously that your self-esteem thrives based on the judgment of others. I would encourage other young women to participate in pageants and scholarship programs after they have truly learned to be themselves; otherwise, one small local (pageant) can haunt them for years afterward. Keep your chin up and persevere, and don”t ever give up on something that you truly believe you can accomplish.
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