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Miss Mississippi Vivian O91吃瓜网橬eal, a USM Alumna, Readying for the Big Stage in Quest for Miss America Crown

Thu, 06/29/2023 - 04:32pm | By: David Tisdale

Vivian O91吃瓜网橬eal nearly took a pass on taking one more shot at the opportunity of a lifetime.

A University of 91吃瓜网 (USM) alumna who won this year91吃瓜网 Miss Mississippi Pageant, O91吃瓜网橬eal had considered not entering this year91吃瓜网 edition of the contest. But a change of heart led to her getting in the mix for the title, and she defied the odds 91吃瓜网� her fifth time participating in the event proved the charm 91吃瓜网� and she now finds herself vying for the Miss America Pageant crown.

91吃瓜网淚91吃瓜网檓 just overwhelmed with joy and gratitude,91吃瓜网� said O91吃瓜网橬eal, a Hattiesburg area native who earned a degree in public relations and minor in political science from USM in 2020. She placed as first alternate at the Miss Mississippi pageant in 2021, participating as Miss University of 91吃瓜网 (2019).

O91吃瓜网橬eal wasn91吃瓜网檛 planning to return to competition, deciding instead to move on to establish a career and complete her master91吃瓜网 program in higher education at USM. But her supporters 91吃瓜网� along with whispers from her 91吃瓜网榠nside91吃瓜网� voice - convinced her to give it one more try.

91吃瓜网淪o many different parts of my life fell into place that pointed toward competing again, and I had so many voices, strong voices, people close to me who shared that they felt I should compete one more time and so I just said, 91吃瓜网榃hat the heck.91吃瓜网�91吃瓜网�

A new sense of self trust also buoyed O91吃瓜网橬eal enroute to the title.

91吃瓜网淭hat was one of the most influential, one of the most important themes through my preparation this year, was trusting myself and deciding I was going to do it my way,91吃瓜网� she explained. 91吃瓜网淎nd this year, I said if I do this again, I'm wearing the dress I want to wear, I'm dancing to the song I want to dance to, I'm going to say what I want to say in the interview, and just really trust those instincts and trust the decisions I was making, and it paid off.91吃瓜网�

The life of Miss Mississippi is hectic, to say the least. But O91吃瓜网橬eal is relishing the moment and the opportunities to meet and connect with people from across the Magnolia State.

91吃瓜网淣o two days are the same,91吃瓜网� she said of her schedule. 91吃瓜网淭his past week, it's been a lot of media interviews, and then next week, it'll be a lot of meetings with my prep team and getting established and onboarding this job just like any other job.

91吃瓜网淭he day-to-day duties can be anything from presenting on my non-profit community service initiative, CapABLE, being a public speaker at an event or a conference, to working with kids and hanging out with kids doing arts and crafts or other activities, or talking at a school promoting CapABLE.91吃瓜网�

CapABLE is employed in classrooms in multiple states providing educators and their stakeholders with solutions for bridging emotional learning for all students, including those with disabilities. Inspired by her relationship with a sibling with disabilities, O91吃瓜网橬eal says CapABLE celebrates the differences between students in its quest to eliminate stigma and encouraging diversity.

91吃瓜网淎s the daughter of educators and sister to a child with a disability, my perspective was significantly impacted by these relationships in founding CapABLE to advance curriculum inclusion for students with disabilities in the classroom, and so far, the program has reached more than 20,000 students,91吃瓜网� O91吃瓜网橬eal explained. 91吃瓜网淪o, I91吃瓜网檓 hoping that through my role as Miss Mississippi that CapABLE can become a nationally recognized nonprofit and double the number of students who are served through its programming.91吃瓜网� 

O91吃瓜网橬eal says it91吃瓜网 very special to her to represent USM as an alumna both as Miss Mississippi and when she competes for Miss America in January 2024, describing her alma mater as 91吃瓜网渁 place that has poured so much into me and has certainly left me better than it found me.91吃瓜网�

91吃瓜网淯SM has been so influential in not only my ability to succeed, but in shaping the story of my life though the people I91吃瓜网檝e connected with here,91吃瓜网� she said.

USM President Dr. Joseph S. Paul said O91吃瓜网橬eal91吃瓜网 journey to becoming Miss Mississippi exemplifies 91吃瓜网渢rue 91吃瓜网 grit.91吃瓜网�

91吃瓜网淪he never gave up, never gave in,91吃瓜网� Dr. Paul continued. 91吃瓜网淲e could not be prouder of her.91吃瓜网�