Valentine Prepares for Miss Arkansas Pageant | People

The week of July 8-14 is approaching quickly, but Savannah Valentine of Alma will be ready as she represents the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith in the Miss Arkansas Pageant that week.

Valentine, a 20-year old childhood education major who won the 2012 Miss UAFS title in March, spends several hours each day devoted to performing her talent routine, taking gymnastic classes, keeping fit and practicing mock interviews that help her stay informed in preparation for the interview process.

"The biggest struggle I am facing is finding enough hours in the day to prepare for Miss Arkansas along with Summer I classes,” Valentine said, “but I am overcoming this obstacle by making sure I have a planner/phone that helps me keep up my schedule.”

Valentine said she wanted to win the Miss UAFS Pageant last spring because she has always loved to dress up and wanted the opportunity to proudly represent her University.

Stacey Jones of Fort Smith, UAFS pageant chair and associate vice chancellor for campus and community events, said Valentine is doing just that.

“She will be a great rep for us at Miss Arkansas,” Jones said. “She understands that the Miss America System is the largest scholarship foundation for women in this country and this year is the 75th anniversary of the Miss Arkansas Pageant.”

Jones said Valentine is receiving strong support for all her efforts and that she is working hard in preparation for the upcoming pageant.

“She has a strong sense of fashion and is prepared for all phases of competition,” he said. “She is doing a great job, learning more and more about her platform and about her chosen field of education.”

For her talent, Valentine will perform a jazz dance to Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel,” however she is most enthusiastic about one other particular phase of competition.

"I am most excited about the swimsuit portion of the pageant,” she said, “because this is the phase of the competition that shows your confidence in yourself and that you are proud of the body God blessed you with.”

Valentine, in addition to winning the Miss UAFS title, won the Lifestyle and Fitness Award in the swimsuit category of competition. She is the daughter of Carl and Tamara Valentine of Alma and is a 2010 graduate of Alma High School. She plans to seek a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and to purse a master’s degree in administration.

The Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant is being held in Hot Springs, with the final night on July 14. If Valentine is crowned Miss Arkansas, she will continue on to appear at the Miss America Scholarship Pageant at a later date.Valentine Prepares for Miss Arkansas Pageant