Moment Miss Kansas winner airs shocking allegations against abuser – before revealing he’s in the AUDIENCE
The newly crowned Miss Kansas is being hailed as a hero after she used her victory speech to confront her abuser while he was in the competition audience.
ICU nurse Alexis Smith beat out 26 rivals to win a spot in the Miss America pageant in January with the motto “regained respect.”
And she proved that these were not empty words when she took to the stage with a scathing critique of the man who tried to force her victory.
“My vision as the next Miss Kansas is to eliminate unhealthy and abusive relationships,” she began.
‘Honestly, some of you in the audience saw that I was very emotional because my abuser was here today.
“But that won’t stop me from standing on the Miss Kansas stage and representing her as the next Miss Kansas.
“Because I and my community have the right to healthy relationships.”
Alexis Smith electrified the crowd when she called out the abuser sitting between them during her acceptance speech after being crowned Miss Kansas 2024
Wichita cardiothoracic ICU nurse hailed as hero
The crowd gave her a standing ovation, and the Wichita health care worker has been in the middle of a tornado since footage of last month’s event went viral, with hundreds of people praising her for her courage.
“Keep it up girl,” wrote one. “You make me proud of my home state.”
“This will have a much bigger impact on Kansas than you could ever imagine!” wrote another.
Another quoted the good witch who helps Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz return to Kansas.
“You had the power all along, my love,” she wrote.
Smith later told KSN News that “every woman in my family has dealt with domestic violence.”
‘I had my first relationship at the age of 14, but it was also an abusive relationship that I was in until about 2018/2019.
“It’s something I still experience and struggle with.”
Five years later, her heart skipped a beat when she discovered that her abuser had come to Pratt Community College to watch the finals of the competition.
“During Miss Kansas night, my journey took an unexpected turn when someone I was healing from tried to disturb my rest,” she explained on her Facebook page.
‘Rather than fall into silence, I chose to share my vision for a better world.
‘I took back power, not just for myself, but for my dreams and for everyone who was watching and listening.
“It’s not about avoiding others. It’s about turning our pain into purpose and channeling it in a way that’s unifying and uplifting.”
She won on the platform ‘Respect Reclaimed: Advocating for Healthy Relationships’
And she finds support from other beauty queens ahead of the Miss America finals
Her resistance was praised by organizations supporting victims of domestic violence across the country.
“We are deeply grateful for her courage in using her platform to advocate for victims and survivors of domestic violence and ensure that everyone can experience safe and healthy relationships,” wrote the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Her courage and grace, especially in the way she shares her personal story and stays strong despite the challenges, inspires us all.
“We commend her vision for ‘Respect Reclaimed: Advocating for Healthy Relationships’ and look forward to the positive impact she will make in the future.”