WEST POINT, Ala. – West Point High School held its annual Miss West Point Pageant on April 19 and freshman Auburn Burtis beat out the competition to take home the Miss West Point Princess crown. Auburn has been competing in pageants for 12 years, and she had a lot of fun representing her school. She was around so many talented girls and learned a lot from them.
“School pageants are always so much fun, because I get to compete with my friends. It always feels good to be able to represent my school,” Burtis said. “There is so much talent at West Point. What I learned the most from the other girls is there are so many personalities that it helps you become more well-rounded.”
Auburn talked about how much help she had leading up to the pageant and how much everyone else’s reactions meant to her when she found out that she had won.
“I compete in pageants outside of school, so I feel like I’m always practicing my walk and my posture. My mom is always trying new hair styles. I’m learning to do my own makeup also. This leads up to me working on my talent, my speaking, and my interview skills. There is so much that goes into preparing for a pageant. My mom is my coach, so she is always helping me out at night and on the weekends,” Burtis said. “The special thing that I did before the pageant was getting to spend the day with my mom. She is my coach and my everything. It’s always a surprise. You have three judges in every pageant that have different opinions on any given days. I love that I can hear my family and friends in the audience.”
Auburn talked about a cause that means the world to her. A lot of girls watched her during the pageant and being a role model for them is important to her.
“I will always support the cause of child hunger. It’s very close to me, and any chance I get, I will be there to support in any way I can. I want everyone to know that hunger hurts, and no child should feel that way,” she said. “I work with little girls all the time. I help my mom with hair and makeup. I help with modeling lessons. I want every little girl to be able to look at me and be proud that they know me.”
She shared some advice for any girls that want to compete in pageants themselves.
“My advice to them is to remember that every judge has their own opinion, and it could be a different winner on any day. Go out and be yourself,” she said. “My most memorable moment from the pageant is when my friend Bella was able to crown me. She was out of town when I won the middle school crown two years ago, so to come back this year and have her crown me meant so much.”
Auburn made so many great memories alongside her fellow participants. Her faith is important to her as well and Auburn feels like God has been there for her every step of the way.
“Memories mean more to me than any crown. To be able to spend the day with these girls and to make these memories with them, it’s everything,” she said. “I was raised to know that my personal relationship with God is with me in every experience every day. For that, I am thankful. My favorite Bible verse is 1 Corinthians 16:14: ‘Do everything in love.’ Love is strong. We show love and we feel love. I want everyone to feel love from me. I learned to always trust myself and Mom, to not doubt myself when I start to get nervous, and to always be myself. This is all about having fun and learning so much from this experience.”
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