he’s beauty, and she’s grace — that’s what judges thought about an Atmore woman who they crowned Miss Alabama in the National American Miss pageant.
Sara Milliken, now known as Miss Alabama, is a 23-year-old who competed for the crown for the third time over Memorial Day weekend.
“National American Miss is known for sending open call letters in the mail and I got that eight years ago and I was like, ‘I really want to compete. I want to do this,’” Milliken said. “I actually went to an open call here in Mobile and had no idea at the time that one day I would win the crown of Miss Alabama and get to compete at nationals.”
Milliken said NAM differs from other competitions because it teaches girls life skills.
“I met so many amazing and accomplished women,” Milliken continued. “That was definitely the best part.”
She said she was shocked when she learned she made the top 10 after not placing the other two times she competed.
“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 said.
But then she made it to the top five and continued making it higher and higher until only she and another contestant were left.“It got down to the top two and my first runner-up; she was absolutely amazing all weekend,” Milliken said. “I was like, ‘OK, I can confidently say that the whole top five, but especially the top two are two amazing, accomplished women.’”
And now with her crown in tow, she has a message to share with young women.
“No matter what your body looks like, no matter where you come from, you can do anything you set your mind to,” Milliken said.
Milliken will go to nationals to compete on the week of Thanksgiving.