Mansfield student wins Miss UAFS crown

As one reign ended another began for the newly crowned Miss University of Arkansas at Fort Smith 2013 Scholarship Pageant winner.

Taylor Smith of Mansfield, Arkansas was crowned Miss UAFS 2013 at the pageant held March 2 at the Arkansas Best Corporation Performing Arts Center at the Fort Smith Convention Center. She will represent the University of Arkansas of Fort Smith in the Miss Arkansas Pageant in Hot Springs in July. She is the daughter of Tina and Michael Smith.

Pageant chair is Stacey Jones of Fort Smith, associate vice chancellor for campus and community events. Jones is also producer for the Miss Arkansas Pageant.

Smith was among 13 young ladies vying for the title. The pageant included a question/response session, lifestyle and fitness (swimsuit), evening wear, and talent. The interview portion of the pageant had been held prior to the night of the pageant. Judges ranked the contestants in the five categories with question/response session being 5% of the points, lifestyle and fitness 15%, interview 25%, evening wear 20%, and talent 35%.

The competition for the night started with the on-stage question. Each contestant had previously written a question on a piece of paper and each contestant had to answer another contestant's question. Once all contestants had a chance to answer their question, the panel of judges were introduced. The panel consisted of five judges, four women and one man.

A special appearance and performance was made by Miss Oklahoma 2012 Alicia Clifton. She danced her routine dance she performed during the 2013 Miss America Pageant held in Las Vegas. She will reign until June when she will crown a new Miss Oklahoma.

During the pageant, special performances were made by the Grayce DeWitt Dance Studio, Miss UAFS Pageant Band, UAFS Jazz Catz, and Miss UAFS Singers.  

Taylor's platform is "SASSY.” It is an acronym for "Save A Sister Start Young.” It is for breast cancer awareness. She entered this pageant because "UAFS has one of the best scholarship pageants and it is a great pageant to start out in. There are also great people to work with."

Miss UAFS 2013 Scholarship Pageant Results
• 2013 Miss UAFS – Taylor Smith
• 1st Runner Up – Kellie Taylor
• 2nd Runner Up – Makayla Jackson
• 3rd Runner Up – Carter Honea
• 4th Runner Up – Dalissa Barentine
• 5th Runner Up – Kalyn Tounzen
• Talent – Kalyn Tounzen
• Interview – Christina Castorena and Taylor Smith
• Lifestyle and Fitness – Carter Honea
• Evening Gown – Dalissa Barentine
• GPA Award – Kellie Taylor
• Miss Congeniality – Amanda Shook
• Spirit of Miss UAFS – Amanda Shook
• Audience Appeal Winner – Kellie Taylor
• Bucket Winner – Makayla Jackson

The newly crowned Miss UAFS will receive a two-year scholarship with a total value $7,000. She will also receive $3,000 cash scholarship, $2,500 necklace, and $260 earrings.

First runner-up receives a one year scholarship with a total value $2,000 and a $1,300 cash scholarship.