What are your hobbies?
My hobbies include dance, gymnastics, soccer, running, reading, scrap booking, shopping with my mom, attending Mississippi State University events, traveling to Southeastern Conference campuses, and of course, spending time with friends and family.

What makes you special and unique?
My parents adopted me as an infant, which instilled in me deep understanding that adoption is one of the most unselfish gifts to a child. Being a college student promoting the option for adoption makes my life and circle of influence unique and special.

What is the best advice you have ever received?
The best advice I have ever received came from my life coach in a quote by Dr. Robert Schuller, “Every achiever that I have ever met says, ‘My life turned around when I began to believe in me.’” When I am called to perform I remember that quote and especially when I hear Fantasia Barrino’s song “I Believe”.

Name one thing you cannot live without.
I cannot live without dancing! I dance for cardio exercise, as a personal release and expression, to build relationships and to expand my platform, Hope for Adoption. Because I was blessed with the gift of dance, I truly feel dancing is my gateway to a life of open doors and endless possibilities to inspire others.

What is the most valuable lesson you ever learned?
Commitment to whatever I am involved in is the key to victory. From dance, soccer, pageants, school and work, I have committed myself to developing the fundamentals for success.

Who is your most valued role model and why?
My most valued role model is my father, C.D. Smith, because he is a man who is very committed to the things he does throughout his community and with his family. I look up to, depend on and have learned from him the value of commitment.

What was your most unexpected moment?
Recently Bethany Christian Services asked me if they could publish a speech I gave in their publication, Lifelines. I was thrilled because my message of option for adoption will reach even further.

What is your workout routine?
Being focused and driven, I always do cardio and core exercise. I do strength training focusing on a different part of my body each session, always listening to Fergie. To change up my routines, I sometimes do kickboxing, Pilates, or take a walk with a girlfriend.

What has been your biggest accomplishment to date?
Playing a collegiate sport is not only an accomplishment but also an honor. I went from being a soccer team walk-on as an incoming freshman to becoming a starter receiving scholarship. It was an exceptional accomplishment in itself to be representing Mississippi State as a student athlete. It taught me discipline, teamwork, and commitment.

What is the best compliment you have ever received?
When someone gives of themselves and their time to help me be my very best, I am so humbled by their unselfishness to help me.

What is your secret wish?
Although I am proud of and work hard at my athletic strength and physique, I will never be a runway or clothing model; so my secret wish is to be a model for women’s Underarmour, a company that supports a healthy and active lifestyle.

What was your most embarrassing moment?
During talent rehearsal during the 2007 Miss Mississippi Pageant, I experienced my first wardrobe malfunction. I was at the end of my routine in my gorgeous gold and red costume, doing my last turn sequence of my routine. I lifted my arms coming from the back turning to the front and my costume dropped in front me. The room was packed with pageant staff, stage crew, contestants, and directors!

What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
Going shopping at Harry Mayer’s, a specialty store in Meridian and charging it to the family account is always my guilty pleasure.

What is your favorite movie and why?
Steel Magnolias, is my all time favorite movie. I have always enjoyed and somewhat related to the personality of Shelby, played by Julia Roberts. I also love the character, Weezer, who keeps me laughing throughout the movie.

What is your favorite color and why?
Of course - Maroon - not only because it represents my alma mater, Mississippi State University, but also because Head Football Coach Sylvester Croom challenged the entire nation to move beyond color barriers when he said, "There is only one color that matters and that color is Maroon."

What do you like to do for fun... relaxation... recreation?
Spending time and mentoring young girls in my hometown helps keep my life fun and carefree. I find it very relaxing to be in my apartment listening to music.

What would be your dream vacation or destination?
I hope to one day travel to Italy and immerse myself in their culture.

What do you like best about your hometown?
Meridian’s Hope Village Carousel horses around town are landmarks and are sponsored yearly by businesses and individuals. They are decorated by local and regional artists to add culture and fun and financially support and benefit the Hope Village for Children project.

What do you like best about the state of Mississippi, besides our food & hospitality?
Mississippi might best be thought of as a living example of “not to judge a book by its cover.” To the world, our stereotypes make us seem like a state that is poor, repressed, and still struggling with our past; however the www.mississippibelieveit.com website shows all that Mississippians have contributed to the world in terms of music artists (blues, country, etc.), performing the first heart, lung and kidney transplants, and per capita, we give more to others than any other state! Mississippi? You better believe it!

What's in your CD player or on your iPod right now?
I enjoy listening to all types of music VH1’s Top 20, country, pop, and some oldies. Right now on my iPod is the country song by Brad Paisley’s, “She’s Everything” along with a variety of music!

Where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years, I see myself being a proud graduate of Mississippi State University and attending events as an alumnus. My primary goal is to have served as Miss America and as a spokesperson to educate others on the benefits of the option for adoption. I also plan to write a motivational book encouraging people to pursue their dreams.

Who am I?
I view myself as a traveler on a journey through life that is filled with surprises and great expectations. So far, my personal life’s journey has taught me to be independent, hopeful, and to make my parents proud. I am self-motivated, determined to succeed at all things and am completely competitive with myself.

I also recognize the human side of me and know my own limitations. I am terrified of spiders and avoid any place that one might be lurking. I love to shop, but do not like chocolate. I am passionate about my friendships and know I must schedule time to be with my friends, who bring out the adventurous side of me. I like to be in control of my surroundings, but am flexible enough to recognize when I am hurt, scared, or homesick. And I rely on my parents to help me get my footing back when I fall. I consider my dad to be my knight in shining armor and my mom is my best friend and backbone of our family.

Setting priorities is of the utmost importance to me, and although I sometimes push myself too hard in many areas, I enjoy time to myself to think, rest, and just be me. Most of all at the end of my journey, I see myself as an accomplished young woman who worked hard to dream, achieve, and experience all that life has to offer.

Tell us about your occupational experience.
For the past seven months I have been employed by my university, Mississippi State University, as a student worker in the Office of the President. This is a great experience because not only is it a great learning experience but it has opened doors to meet and assist alumni, business leaders, and other students.

Tell us about your platform.
Option for Adoption-

On May 21st, 1986, I was blessed with the most precious gift anyone could ever ask for - my parents. This was the day they adopted me, chose me, and brought me into their home. They have loved and encouraged me from the very beginning and have helped establish the foundation on which my beliefs and gifts are built. They helped me grow and truly develop the special parts of my life, including my dancing. This is how I express myself and inspire others.

I wanted to create an educational opportunity that relates to my background in dance and gives back to others. With Option for Adoption as my platform, I began Hip Hop for Hope, which is an independent fundraiser for the Bethany Christian Service, a non-profit adoption agency. Hip Hop for Hope is a hip hop dance workshop that I coordinate asking for donations from the dance students. In these workshops I share with them my gift of dancing and how together we can offer hope to others. I take the monetary income from my independent workshops and then donate that to the agency to support others.

Through my program, I am able to teach others to dance, and share my happiness with them. But more importantly the program also teaches them to discover themselves through dance, and express their own happiness as well. This program gives me the opportunity to educate children and parents about the benefits of adoption and the gifts one gives and receives by adopting a child.