MEXICO—Miss Missouri candidates from across the state, their pageant directors and families traveled to the heart of Missouri on June 12 to kick off a week filled with rehearsals, talent performances, interviews, and evening gowns at Missouri Military Academy.
The group includes Miss Central Missouri Kelly Hooper. She is a graduate from the University of Florida and will enter the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law this fall. She is the granddaughter of Betty Earle of Mexico.
As part of the Alpha competition group of contestants, Kelly was scheduled to have her personal interview with the judges on Wednesday morning, followed by her red-carpet look on Wednesday night. On Thursday, Kelly will perform a monologue for the judges and audience during the talent portion of the preliminary competition. Friday’s preliminary competition will conclude when Kelly gives her social-impact statement on her initiative, “Head for the Cure: Supporting Brain Cancer Awareness.”
“Head for the Cure supports the brain cancer community by increasing awareness, fundraising efforts, and spreading hope,” she said describing her social-impact initiative. “In the state of Missouri, and across the country, the work executed by Head for the Cure, a Kansas City-based 501(c)3 organization is vital,” Hooper added.
Pageant week began Sunday, June 12 when the Miss Missouri candidates moved onto the Missouri Military Academy’s campus. Throughout the week of events, the Miss Missouri candidates participate in a wide variety of activities, ending on Saturday afternoon with a meet-and-greet for area residents on the courthouse lawn, in downtown Mexico.
The preliminary competition began last Tuesday, June 14, and will continue through Friday, June 17. The organization will crown the new Miss Missouri Saturday night, June 18, as it says goodbye to reigning Miss Missouri Callie Cox. After being crowned, the new Miss Missouri will begin a hectic schedule of preparations for the Miss America stage and competition, to be held later this year.
The Miss Missouri Scholarship Organization is one of the largest providers of scholarships to young women in the state. This year, the organization will award more than $85,000 in scholarships between the Miss Missouri and Outstanding Teen programs.
Tickets for the Miss Missouri and Miss Missouri’s Outstanding Teen Pageants are available through the Mexico Area Chamber of Commerce.