• Miss America addresses Pratt students

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  Gale RoseMiss America 2016 Betty Cantrell listens as Southwest Elementary third grader Alexis Day sings part of "Let It Go" during Cantrell's visit to Liberty Middle School Wednesday. Cantrell shared her Miss America story with girl students then sang the popular song from the movie "Frozen" and invited Day to come on stage and sing with her. Abby Doman also sang.
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• By Gale Rose

  
  Posted Apr. 28, 2016 at 8:59 AM 
  
  Pratt, Kan.

  Changing perceptions is a goal for Miss America 2016 Betty Cantrell who visited Pratt Wednesday and shared some time with girls in grades 3 thorough 12 at USD 382.

  Cantrell said the Miss America Organization is trying to focus more on the competition aspect of the pageant and who Miss America is and what she does.

  Miss America is about scholarships for women for college and about service to the community.

  There are still many people who think of Miss America as a “beauty pageant” and they want to change that image, Cantrell said.

  Miss America works closely with the Children’s Miracle Network. During her reign, Cantrell has learned just how important her efforts are in the lives of children. The funds she and the organization raises go to the hospitals and helps fund research that eventually keeps children alive, Cantrell said.

  A new activity for the Miss America organization is “Miss America Serves” a day when all the state titleholders and Miss America get a local team together and perform a public service within the community. Cantrell worked alongside the Washington D.C. group as they entertained veterans.

  This program is in its second year and it really shows what Miss America is all about. Starting the program now was part of the ongoing effort to change perceptions.

  Cantrell shared her journey to Miss America with the girls and reminded them they can succeed in whatever goal they choose, no matter what it is.

  People had told her she would never become Miss America and that she would never fulfill her dream of becoming a professional singer.

  Her parents told her not to listen to the naysayers and pursue her dreams. She put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears to accomplish her goals and wanted the girls to understand they can do the same.

  She shared that during the Miss America competition, she had some moments that didn’t go well but she didn’t give up. She lost an earring on stage and tripped twice during her walk in the eveningwear event.

  She also didn’t know who Tom Brady was or anything about the controversy known as Deflategate but that was her on-stage question. By the time she finished she said she definitely felt he had deflated the footballs.

  She got a lot of flak from Patriots fans about her comments but she said she gets negative comments from “haters” in general that make comment on social media about her. But any public figure has to deal people like that all the time.

  “You just have to ignore it and let it go,” Cantrell said. “You have to have thick skin to be Miss America.”

  Although she thought she had lost her chance at the title when things didn’t go smoothly, the judges wanted someone who can handle any situation so those unplanned moments allowed her to show she could do the job.

  “I learned Miss America is not about being perfect. No one can be perfect,” Cantrell said. “It really kind of restored my faith in humanity.”

  Following her speech, Cantrell sang “Let It Go” from the movie “Frozen” and invited a couple of girls to come on stage and sing along.

  Then she, along with Miss Kansas Hannah Wagner and Miss Kansas Outstanding Teen Ashley Pringle, held a question and answer period followed by a short photo session.

  Cantrell is from Warner Robins, Georgia and won Miss America as Miss Georgia. She attends Mercer University and wants to pursue a career in singing.

  Her platform, titled Healthy Children, Strong America, promotes healthy living and good choices.

  
  http://www.pratttribune.com/article/20160428/NEWS/160429367