The National American Miss (NAM) Pageant crowned plus-size 23-year-old Sara Milliken as Miss Alabama as the Atmore woman competed for the third time.
Milliken was crowned with the title over the Memorial Day weekend, with the 23-year-old sharing her body positivity message to WKRG following the win in the state-level competition. (RELATED: Beauty Pageant For Fake Women Announces Top 10 ‘Contestants’)
“No matter what your body looks like, no matter where you come from, you can do anything you set your mind to,” Milliken told the outlet.
Milliken described her shock over first making the top 10 after not placing during her previous attempts at the competition and then advancing to the top 5, calling her fellow competitors “amazing, accomplished women.”
“Just making it to top 10 was my goal, ya know, I could leave the weekend saying I was better than I was the year before, and it’s all about bettering yourself for me,” Milliken stated. “It got down to the top two and my first runner-up; she was absolutely amazing all weekend.”
“I was like, ‘OK, I can confidently say that the whole top five, but especially the top two are two amazing, accomplished women,’” Milliken told the outlet.
Miss Alabama Sara Milliken is calling out cyberbullies, tells them to get help, and says she is “mentally at a great place.”
Milliken was recently crowned Miss Alabama after trying to win the title for 8 years.
“Please know that both victims and perpetrators… you do not have… pic.twitter.com/GSijU6Cp3D
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 7, 2024
However, following the announcement of her victory, the 23-year-old soon received mixed feedback online, with some users calling out her appearance. Within a recent interview with WKRG, Milliken admitted that the comments had gotten to her “for about five minutes,” before stating that her upside was gaining followers and support from all over.
The 23-year-old noted to the outlet that while cyberbullying can impact people in detrimental ways, she is seeking to continue educating people about the impact of words as she gets ready to compete for nationals in November, according to WKRG.
“Their words can hurt,” Milliken said. “Even if it is online. Even something that you type over a screen can have a lasting impression on people. I’ve always wanted to spread positivity, and this kind of put me in a position to do exactly that.”
Another beauty pageant winner within the East Coast broke a first for the competition Thursday, as biological male, Bailey Anne Kennedy, became the first transgender competitor to win the crown for Miss Maryland USA, according to DC News Now.
During an interview with the outlet, the 31-year-old stated the hope from the win is to “open up open up some doors, open up some hearts for people to see that there are many aspects of LGBT community out there and I hope I can be a positive contribution to society in making a difference like the USO program like I’m working with.”
Kennedy will be competing next for the Miss USA crown in August.