The newly-crowned Miss Kansas has been hailed as a hero after using her winner’s acceptance speech to call out her abuser as he sat in the competition audience.
ICU nurse Alexis Smith triumphed over 26 rivals to win a place at January’s Miss America contest on a platform of ‘respect reclaimed’.
And she proved they were not empty words when she electrified the stage with a withering put-down of the man who tried to muscle in on her victory.
‘My vision as the next Miss Kansas is to eliminate unhealthy and abusive relationships,’ she began.
‘Matter of fact, some of you out 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 and from representing as the next Miss Kansas.
‘Because I, and my community, deserve healthy relationships.’
Alexis Smith electrified the audience as she called out the abuser sitting among them during her acceptance speech after being crowned Miss Kansas 2024
The cardiothoracic ICU nurse form Wichita has found herself hailed as a hero
The audience erupted in a standing ovation and the health worker from Wichita has found herself at the center of a tornado since footage of last month’s event went viral, with hundreds praising her for her bravery.
‘You go girl,’ wrote one. ‘You make me proud of my home state.’
‘This impacts Kansas in a much more profound way than you could ever imagine!’ wrote another.
While another quoted the good witch who helps Dorothy return to Kansas from the Wizard of Oz.
‘You had the power all along my dear,’ she wrote.
Smith later told KSN News that ‘every single woman in my family, was impacted by domestic violence’.
‘At the age of 14, I got in my first relationship, but it was also an abusive relationship that I was in until about 2018, 2019.
‘It’s something that I’m still experiencing and dealing with today.’
And five years on her heart fell when she discovered that her abuser had arrived at the Pratt Community College to watch the competition final.
‘On the night of Miss Kansas, my journey took an unexpected turn when someone I have been healing from tried to disrupt my peace,’ she explained on her Facebook page.
‘Instead of falling into silence, I chose to live out my vision for a better world.
‘I took back the power — not just for myself, but for my dreams and everyone watching and listening.
‘This isn’t about shunning others; it’s about turning our pain into purpose and channeling it in a way that unifies and uplifts.’
She won on a platform of ‘Respect Reclaimed: Advocating for Healthy Relationships’
And she is finding support among other beauty queens ahead of the Miss America final
And her defiance won praise from organizations supporting victims of domestic violence across the country.
‘We are deeply grateful for her courage in using her platform to advocate for victims and survivors of domestic violence, ensuring that everyone can experience safe and healthy relationships,’ wrote the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Her bravery and grace, especially in sharing her personal story and standing strong despite challenges, inspire us all.
‘We commend her vision with ‘Respect Reclaimed: Advocating for Healthy Relationships’ and eagerly anticipate the positive impact she will continue to make.’