Newly crowned Miss Kansas calls out alleged abuser during pageant speech

[erronis]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/23/miss-kansas-alexis-smith-abuser-pageant-speech

Alexis Smith tells audience that her abuser is in crowd and that ‘I, and my community, deserve healthy relationships’

The newly crowned Miss Kansas is emerging as an advocate for domestic violence survivors after she shocked judges and her audience in the final interview of her competition victory by calling out her abuser in the crowd.

Standing on stage in a blue sequined gown in June, Alexis Smith told the crowd: “Some of you in this audience saw me very emotional because my abuser is here today. But that’s not going to stop me from being on this Miss Kansas stage because I, and my community, deserve healthy relationships.”

She said her abusive relationship began when she was 14 and ended in about 2018 or 2019. After escaping the relationship, the 25-year-old Smith said she moved to Texas – but she ultimately decided to return to Wichita to pursue a nursing degree from Newman University.

Smith said she was a “bystander, victim and survivor” of domestic violence – but she pledged to strive to advocate against it after clinching her pageant title.

[North Shore Chicago]

1. Ms. Smith

is a lion heart!

May she be blessed with success, health! She already has valor.