At the National Miss America (NAA) pageant, Sarah Milliken, a plus-size 23-year-old from Atmore, was crowned Miss Alabama, competing for the third time.
Milliken won the title over Memorial Day weekend, and the 23-year-old shared her message of body positivity. translation Following their win at the state level tournament. (Related: Beauty pageant for fake women announces top 10 ‘contestants’)
“No matter what body type you are, no matter where you come from, you can do anything if you put your mind to it,” Milliken told the outlet.
Milliken said she was shocked to have made it into the top 10 for the first time and then into the top five after not placing in the previous competition, and called the other contestants “incredible, talented women.”
“My goal was to finish in the top 10. It’s all about improving myself so that when I leave at the weekend I can say I was better than the year before,” Milliken said. “It got narrowed down to the top two and my first runner-up, and she was really great all weekend.”
“I thought, ‘OK, I can confidently say that all of those top five, especially those top two, are incredible, outstanding women,'” Milliken told the outlet.
Miss Alabama Sarah Milliken has condemned cyberbullies, urged people to seek help and said she is in “a very good place mentally.”
Milliken was recently crowned Miss Alabama after eight years of trying.
“Both victims and perpetrators… you… pic.twitter.com/GSijU6Cp3D
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 7, 2024
However, after the announcement of her win, the 23-year-old Milliken quickly received mixed reactions online, with some users criticizing her appearance. In a recent interview with WKRG, Milliken acknowledged that the comments affected her for “about five minutes,” and said that her attractiveness has since garnered her support and admiration from around the world.
The 23-year-old told the outlet that cyberbullying can have a harmful effect on people but that she wants to continue educating people about the impact of words ahead of the national conference in November. according to To WKRG.
“Their words can hurt,” Milliken said, “even online. Even what you type on a screen can leave a lasting impression on people. I’ve always wanted to spread positivity, and this work has put me in a position to do just that.”
Another East Coast beauty pageant winner achieved a pageant first on Thursday: Bailee Ann Kennedy, who is biologically male, became the first transgender contestant to be crowned Miss Maryland USA. according to Go to DC News Now.
In an interview with the outlet, the 31-year-old said she hopes her win “opens doors and opens people’s minds so that they know there are many sides to the LGBT community, and that I can make a positive contribution to society by making a difference, like the USO program I’m working on.”
Kennedy will next compete for the Miss USA crown in August.
