Miss Alabama Hayley Barber's 'long journey' to Miss America 2017
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on September 06, 2016 at 9:00 AM, updated September 07, 2016 at 10:02 AM
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then try, try again.
That's been the maxim of Hayley Barber, Miss Alabama 2016. The Pelham High School graduate competed in Miss Alabama five times before her perseverance paid off. She took home the Miss Alabama title in June. Now, she's ready to take on her next chapter as she vies for the title of Miss America 2017.
"This year [before Miss Alabama], I was like 'I'm ready for this, I know I can handle the job. If it happens to me great, if it doesn't, I know I'm going to do other things and be successful in those.' Finally, I was good with any outcome because I knew I was gaining something from the program regardless of if I won or not," Barber told AL.com after her arrival in Atlantic City.
She's approaching the 2017 Miss America Competition with the same mindset.
Barber is one of 52 contestants in Atlantic City who competing for the crown this week. During the contestant arrival ceremony, Barber was named one of seven finalists for the 2017 Quality of Life Awards, Miss America scholarships recognizing contestants who excel in their commitment to community service. She was also named as one of five finalists for Miss America's STEM scholarships.
On Tuesday evening, Barber joined Miss Tennessee, Miss Mississippi, Miss New Hampshire, Miss Oklahoma, and Miss South Carolina, in earning a gold medal in The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award program. The program recognizes individual achievement in self-improvement through physical recreation, skills, service, adventurous journeys, and residential projects. Prince Edward, the youngest son of the Queen of England, visited Birmingham in 2012 to promote the award.
Preliminary competition for Miss America started Monday, September 5. Barber competes in Private Interview, Lifestyle and Fitness in Swimsuit, and Evening Wear on Tuesday, Talent on Wednesday, and On Stage question on Thursday. Since Alabama is first is the alphabetical list of U.S. States, she'll be the first contestant seen Saturday in the annual Show Us your Shoes parade down the Atlantic City's famous boardwalk.
One of these 52 contestants will be crowned Miss America 2017.
During the parade, she'll wear a custom evening gown by longtime Miss Alabama sponsor Ann Northington. It has a full-body cape that features a replica of the Alabama Theatre sign. Each Miss America contestant chooses an outfit that represents their state and previous Miss Alabamas have paid homage to Alabama's Mardi Gras history, championship football teams, Alabama's state insect and more. The rest of her pageant wardrobe features other formal customAnn Northington pieces and clothes from other longtime sponsors, Gus Mayer and The Clothes Tree.
Preliminary competition, festivities and events culminate with the 2017 Miss America Competition finale, Sunday, September 11, 2016. The finale will broadcast live from Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall, Sunday, September 11, 2016 from 9:00 – 11:00 p.m. EST on ABC.
Barber says she's proud to represent Alabama. "I'm so excited. I wouldn't want to represent anyone else. I love Alabama. I'm glad I have such a huge support team and a lot people who have been sending me well wishes and encouraging me along the way," she said. "I think our state represents such a complex group of people and such a diverse group of people that I can really use that to translate to America and how diverse our nation is."
Barber is a senior marketing major at UAB who has plans to go to optometry school and eventually open her own practice. She says the competition gives her a wider audience to introduce to her platform, "Sight for Small Eyes." She uses her platform to encourage eye examinations at a young age and raise funds to provide vision therapy for children with low vision.
"My main goal for Miss Alabama and Miss America is to get legislation passed that would require comprehensive eye examinations before entering school," she said. Barber herself wears glasses (and contacts) and says she wouldn't be able to drive legally without corrected vision.
She has written a bill that would require comprehensive eye exams before kindergarten that she has been trying to get passed by the Alabama legislature for the past four years. She's even expanded her platform nationally by creating " 3 Tips for Healthy Vision" an interactive curriculum for Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Miss Alabama Hayley Barber, who was crowned on June 11, has set her sights on being crowned Miss America on Sept. 11 in Atlantic City. But even if that doesn't happen, she's got a bigger vision that she'll pursue.
Whether she wins or loses the title of Miss America up to the judges. Leading up to the finale, she says excited about the things she can control - enjoying the experience and having a good time while gaining lifelong friends.
"It's been a long journey for me, so I've done a lot of reflecting over the last week getting ready for this and realizing how far I've come has been my motivation for want to do well here," she said. "I've completely become a better person because of this."
http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2016/09/hayley_barber_miss_alabama_201.html
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