Miss Southeastern 2017 Kristyn Gary took home the crown winning the annual pageant on Nov. 19. 
The Lion's Roar/ Larshell Green

As a new Miss Southeastern prepares to represent the university for an entire year through her reign, she intends to focus on being a role model. She will spread the message of childhood literacy while achieving personal growth. 

The annual Miss Southeastern Pageant hosted by Campus Activities Board was judged on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. in Pottle Auditorium. 

Kristyn Gary was awarded Miss Congeniality and shared how she felt after she was officially crowned. 

“The moment they called my name as Miss Southeastern 2017, I felt so many emotions,” said Gary. “I was so honored and proud. I could not stop smiling.”

Right before her crowning, Gary admitted that her favorite moment involved bonding backstage with her fellow contestants. 

“All of the contestants were standing backstage and I could feel a sense of relief and accomplishment,” said Gary. “We were all proud of ourselves and each other.”

According to Gary, the process of preparing for Miss Southeastern began with filling out forms and focusing on her platform Book it to Success. 

“Once they were submitted, I began working every day towards my goals by preparing myself physically and mentally for every part of the pageant,” said Gary. 

Preparation for Miss Southeastern 2017 proved to be difficult but rewarding for Gary in the long run. 

“I believe in working as hard as possible to reach my goals so I really worked hard to prepare for this pageant,” said Gary. “Although the preparation was not easy, I am thankful for it because I truly feel like I grew as a person throughout the process.”

Gary’s platform is called Book it to Success and is intended to promote early childhood literacy. 

“Statistics show that children that are read to every day from birth have higher scores in school,” said Gary. “Unfortunately, not every child has books in their home.”

As a sophomore childhood early education major, Gary views childhood literacy as a very important cause that she has the opportunity to assist in through her reign as queen. 

“This issue is very important to me and as Miss Southeastern I can be the voice and the helping hand to get these children the resources they need to reach their full potential,” said Gary. “I plan on collecting books and donating them to local schools, hospitals and childcare centers. I also plan on attending events to promote my platform so that more people are aware of the importance of early childhood literacy.”

Gary, who was introduced to pageants at six-months-old, admitted that she remembered enjoying dressing up and having fun on stage. 

From her younger days of pageants to her current reign over the university, Gary has stated that she has gained knowledge throughout her recent experiences.

“This whole process has been a learning experience for me,” said Gary. “Throughout life, my parents have always told me ‘to stay true to myself.’ This pageant taught me a lot about the importance of being myself. As long as you are being yourself, your inner beauty will shine through.” 

Gary shared her hopes for the upcoming year with her new role as Miss Southeastern 2017. 

“I hope to be a great representative of Southeastern Louisiana University,” said Gary. “I hope to be a positive role model for people of all ages. I also hope to educate as many people as possible about my platform so that I can make a difference in our youth and be a voice for the children.”

The Miss Congeniality winner of Miss Southeastern 2017 Kristyn Gary has made plans to promote childhood literacy through her platform Book It to Success.
The Lion's Roar/Larshell Green