ELKMONT'S BRIANNE HARGROVE - MISS UNA CONTESTANT

I am so excited and honored to be competing in the Miss UNA pageant this month.

Each contestant has a platform of her choice to promote and bring awareness through within the community. My platform is “Kids to Love”. Some of you may have heard of the Kids to Love Foundation. It is a non-profit based out of Madison, Alabama and founded by Lee Marshall. 

Foster children have a special place in my heart. People would be shocked at how many children are in the foster care system just in our own communities.  On average a child remains in foster care for two years while six percent remain in the system for five years or more. Six percent may not sound like a lot, but when you do the math, that is roughly 40,200 children that spend a better portion of their childhood in foster care. That number is almost equivalent to the entire population of Florence, Alabama. 

I believe we can change that bitter reality. Kids to Love is changing the lives of foster children. Not only do they provide them with things that most children take for granted, but they also advocate for these children to find them forever homes. Since Kids to Love first launched in 2004, the number of children in foster care has decreased 30% statewide. Their methods are working in so many ways and I am honored to support them and promote everything they are doing.

One of my missions this past month was to sponsor as many foster children under the care of the Kids to Love program as I could for the holidays. With help from donations and wonderful hospitality of others, I was able to sponsor five foster children and their entire holiday wish list!

Another portion of the competition is talent. For my talent, I will be performing a clogging routine to the song “Better When I’m Dancing” by Meghan Trainor. As the title says, “I’m better when I’m dancing”. I have found something that brings me joy and lifts me up when I am down. I hope others can do the same and live life to the fullest.

 

As many of you have already seen, each contestant also designs a ring with the help of Creative Jewelers in Florence. Creative Jewelers sponsors the pageant and in return gives a special gift to the winner with the most likes on her picture with her ring design, which is posted on their facebook page. Not only does the person with the most likes get a prize, but the new Miss UNA 2018 receives her custom design ring for FREE, compliments of Creative Jewelers! 

Aside from the jewelry, pampering, and scholarships the Miss UNA pageant brings, the best reward of all has to be the experience. I have been able to learn new things and challenge myself in ways I would have never been able to before. 

So many doors have been opened and new people to call my friends, but seeing all the wonderful support back home brings a tear to my eye. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Love you all! Go Red Devils and Roar Lions!

LINK TO VOTE FOR BRIANNE'S RING
*When you get there "like" her ring design photo to help her win the ring contest.

Join us Saturday January 27st at 5:00p.m. at Norton Auditorium for the 44rd Miss UNA Scholarship Pageant Sponsored by SGA and Creative Jewelers. Tickets are on-sale now at www.una.edu/boxoffice! $12 Online, and $15 at the door. Students may redeem a complimentary ticket from the Office of Student Engagement from January 5th until January 26th. 

PAGEANT INFORMATION:

The Miss UNA Scholarship Pageant is an official preliminary for the Miss Alabama/Miss America Pageant. The Miss UNA Scholarship pageant has been a UNA tradition for over 40 years. 

 

Each young woman is encouraged and mentored to develop skills that will enrich her personal and professional life beyond her university experience. Miss University of North Alabama spends her year in service to the university and Shoals Area community promoting the platform of her choice, makes official appearances as a university representative, and represents the university at the Miss Alabama Scholarship Pageant.