Updated 2-5-21 2:27 p.m.
CULLMAN, Ala. – On Jan. 10, Hanceville’s Alexandria Flanigan was crowned Miss Alabama USA, making her the first Miss Cullman USA contestant to win the state pageant. Early Thursday morning, The Tribune spoke with Flanigan to get to know the woman behind the crown.
College
“What led you to study law, and what do you hope to do in that career?”
“I went to Jacksonville State, and then I decided that was not where I needed to be. I was trying to find direction and purpose, and in between my freshman and sophomore year I was saved. My sophomore year, I came home and attended Wallace State in Hanceville, and at the end of that year I actually decided to go into ministry. I actually didn’t believe I would finish my degree. So that first year, I just did ministry with my local church, and my second year I attended Highlands College in Birmingham. While I was there, I just saw a lot of things that really woke a passion in me to help people and to be a voice for the voiceless. That’s why I chose to be an attorney, to help people. That’s what I want to use my career for.”
According to the Miss Cullman USA 2021 website (www.misscullmanusa2021.com/), Flanigan currently attends the University of Alabama in Huntsville and is enrolled in the pre-law program, where she is majoring in philosophy and minoring in political science. She is involved with the UAH chapter of the NAACP and serves as the treasurer for the pre-law honor society.
Charity work
“In other interviews, you’ve spoken about your passion for philanthropy and charity work. What have been your favorite projects to work on or organizations to work with?”
“My favorite project – I was thinking about that this morning – it was in I think 2017. My church (Desperation Church in Cullman) does a First Saturday Serve, and we went to this elderly woman’s house and all we did was just clean her yard, but it was her reaction. We had picked up tree limbs and mowed the grass and planted some flowers, and that was just something nice that we wanted to do for her because she couldn’t, but she just started crying. She was so grateful, and it just reminded me that the little things are what makes a difference in people’s lives.
“I would say my favorite organization right now is Filter of Hope (an organization that helps families in need of clean water) just because I see the impact that it is making, and I cannot wait to get to travel and go to a different country and build filters for people.”
“Are there any projects that you’re hoping to start working on in the future?”
“There are, but I don’t know if I can talk about them yet because I’m working with other organizations and we’re trying to figure how we’re going to go about doing this.”
Other passions
“Outside of pageants and philanthropy, what else are you passionate about?”
“You know, I’m very passionate about writing. That’s not something I share with people; I don’t really share what I write. I write poetry and music, and hopefully one day I’ll be writing books. I think everyone has their way of expressing themselves, and that’s mine.”
Pageantry
“How did you get started doing pageants?”
“I’ve never really been a pageant girl; I’ve always been more of a tomboy. With this specific pageant, it was always something I’d wanted to do but I’d never had the confidence to do it, to step out and take that opportunity. But after everything that happened in 2020, I was like, ‘You know, why not? Life is short. I should try to challenge myself and conquer those fears.’ That’s why I did this pageant.”
“So was this your first pageant?”
“This was my first state pageant, the first pageant of this caliber.”
“What does your victory as Miss Alabama USA mean to you? How has it affected your life so far?”
“It has affected my life drastically. People didn’t know my name before this, and now they do. People are asking me about my life, and I’ve never really had to talk about that before. It’s given me many opportunities too – job opportunities, modeling opportunities, speaking opportunities. I’m excited to see what happens this year.”
“What do you plan to do with the platform you’ve been given?”
“I really want to use it to better my community, better the state, and hopefully use it to raise money for the organizations that I’m a part of so that I can use it to advance the purpose of what we’re doing.”
“How are you feeling about competing in the Miss USA pageant later this year?”
“I don’t think the idea of competing has set in just yet. I’ve seen videos of last year’s pageant, and I know the work the former Miss before me put in, but I just don’t know how to feel yet. I honestly wasn’t planning on winning! I really just take it day by day right now.”
Being a role model
“What advice would you give to young girls who look up to you and your platform?”
“I would tell them three things: Never be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Never let someone tell you that you cannot do something. Everything you need to succeed is already in you, you just have to take that leap of faith.”
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