Image Credit: Instagram @missalexissmith
The newly crowned Miss Kansas has actually gone viral for calling out her abuser on the pageant stage.
Alexis Smith, of Butler County, was officially crowned Miss Kansas on June 8, vanquishing 25 other participants for the title according to KWCH in Wichita, Kansas, and The Associated Press.
During the interview part of the contest, which Smith shared on social networks, she securely stated her objective as Miss Kansas would be to “eliminate abusive and unhealthy relationships.”
She then made a stunning statement: “Some of you out in this audience saw me really emotional, because my abuser is here today.”
” But thats not going to stop me from being on this Miss Kansas phase and representing as the next Miss Kansas,” she continued. “I and my community deserve healthy relationships.
” But thats not going to stop me from being on this Miss Kansas stage and representing as the next Miss Kansas,” she continued. “I and my neighborhood should have healthy relationships. I took back my power– not just for myself, however for my dreams and everyone seeing and listening.”
“At the age of 14, I got in my first relationship, but it was likewise a violent relationship that I was in up until about 2018, 2019. If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org.
In a statement on Instagram and Facebook, the 25-year-old shared a clip of her remarks, writing more about how they connected to her platform of “Respect Reclaimed.”
” On the night of Miss Kansas, my journey took an unforeseen turn when somebody I have actually been healing from attempted to interrupt my peace,” she wrote. “Instead of falling into silence, I chose to live out my vision for a much better world. I took back my power– not simply for myself, however for my dreams and everyone listening and watching.”
” This isnt about avoiding others,” she included. “Its about turning our pain into purposes and channeling it in a way that unifies and boosts.”
” My family, every single female in my household, was affected by domestic violence,” she informed KSN. “At the age of 14, I got in my first relationship, however it was likewise a violent relationship that I was in up until about 2018, 2019. Its something that Im still dealing and experiencing with today.”
” I took benefit of the Miss Kansas Organization, which really concentrates on empowering women,” she added. “And me, being a lady who required that empowerment all my life, being a bystander to domestic violence, a victim, a survivor, and now a supporter along with a young woman who is educationally driven, I have the opportunity not only to share my story on such a big scale but likewise go back to school.”
Smith has actually not named the private she identified as her abuser.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and private. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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Respect Reclaimed!
Our time is now for healthy relationships. #MissAmerica #ThereSheIs #Pageants #RespectReclaimed #MissKansas pic.twitter.com/npejBb6CCs
— Alexis Smith, Miss Kansas (@MissAmericaKS) July 16, 2024
On July 16, a clip of the on-stage moment was shared on Smiths official X account, which then went viral. The video has been seen over 67,000 times on X alone.
Now, Smith, a cardiothoracic ICU nurse, is sharing more of her story.
