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DIOCESAN NEWS `There she is .... Miss Mississippi!!!’ VIEW GALLERYBy Susan Marquez CLEVELAND -- When the judging was done and the winner took the runway, all Mary Margaret Roark could do was watch and smile, happy for Laura Kaeppeler, Miss Wisconsin, who walked away with the Miss America crown Saturday night, Jan. 14, in Las Vegas. Just back from the Miss America pageant in Las Vegas, Roark represented our state as Miss Mississippi. She hails from Cleveland, where she attends Our Lady of Victories Church. “Growing up as a member of Our Lady of Victories has always helped me stay focused on the most important things in life. I was given the title of Miss Mississippi for a reason. I have been able to share my faith in God, my passions in life, and inspire others through this title. At the end of the day, I knew leaving for Miss America that God had a plan for me. My family and I prayed that we would understand and accept the results.” Being a pageant contestant is hard work, and Roark prepared for each phase of the competition. “I made sure I was physically fit, up to date on world events, perfected my talent selection, and completed the extensive wardrobe that I needed for the week. We are there for 10 days, so being mentally and emotionally sound is also very important.” The biggest surprise for Roark was the instant connection between the contestants. “I didn't expect to have so much in common with girls from across the nation. I also expected there to be tension between the girls, but we all got along great!” Just being in Las Vegas was fun for Roark, who said pageant officials toured the contestants around the city to shoot video introductions for the pageant telecast. “It was so neat to be a part of video productions and also see major Vegas destinations!” But one of her biggest challenges was adapting to the changes in climate. “The air was so dry I had to really hydrate more than usual.” The crazy sleep cycle was difficult as well. “One day I was awake at 3 a.m. and didn't get in bed until 1 a.m.” Education is important to Roark, who graduated from Bayou Academy High School in Cleveland before heading to Mississippi State University to major in broadcasting and public relations. The 21-year-junior took a couple of semesters off to prepare for the pageant. “Miss Mississippi in and of itself is an incredibly busy job, and then there was the preparing for Miss America. I took off spring and fall semesters to complete my duties. I will return in August to complete my undergraduate degree.” Her next step after graduation will be law school. “I am still figuring out what area of law I would like to practice in. I do love entertainment, and I think it would be exciting to practice in that field.” Roark’s platform while Miss Mississippi is “JEWELS for Alzheimer's,” her personal campaign to raise money and awareness for the Alzheimer's Association. After watching her own grandmother suffer with the disease, Roark began volunteering at care centers and co-hosting Alzheimer's events. “I have begun a jewelry line to raise money for the Alzheimer's Association. In collaboration with ABJewels, we have created a design based on the Alzheimer's Association logo. All of the proceeds from jewelry sales are donated to the local Alzheimer’s Association in Mississippi.” With just a couple of days to rest at home before heading to the Coast for an appearance, Roark said that she will remain Miss Mississippi until the end of June when a new titleholder is crowned in Vicksburg. She will be making appearances which can be scheduled through the pageant office at missmissippipageant.com. She will also be employed by the state to instruct a tobacco-free program to schools across the state. Reflecting on the Miss America pageant, and her reign as Miss Mississippi, Roark said that she doesn’t think she’ll compete again. “The reason I competed in the Miss America program is because of the values it stands for: commitment to community service, development of talent, scholastic achievement, and creating well-rounded young women. You may only compete in Miss America once, so this chapter of my life is coming to an end.” In closing, Roark shared a fun fact, stating Miss Kentucky, Ann-Blair Thornton, is also Catholic. “We had a great time sharing stories, and we discovered that my priest, Father Kent Bowlds’ parents go to her parish!” (For more information on JEWELS for Alzheimer’s, visit Roark’s website at jewels4alz.com.) |
