23 years old Bayleigh Dayton has been crowned as Miss Missouri USA 2017 and she will have the opportunity to represent her state Missouri at the prestigious Miss USA 2017 to be held in the month of June 2017. Delighted after winning the title, Dayton said, “It’s awesome to be able to put a face with a title. I’m obviously the first African-American titleholder in this position. Now girls have someone to look up to and can have an actual role model.”
Dayton is a flight attendant and print model. She is a graduate from Baylor University and Notre Dame de Sion High School in Kansas City. The delegate is determined and has made history as the first African American woman to be crowned Miss Missouri USA. Dayton originally entered the pageant circuit in 2013 wanting to achieve the title then. However, when she couldn’t, she kept on going until she won.
Dayton in an interview told that she made it to the top 16 during the 2013 pageant, and this year, the challenges of pageants past weren’t as prevalent. “Last year when I entered, I knew that my road to pageantry wasn’t finished,” Dayton said. “When I made top five last year I knew that I could do this. The insecurities weren’t there. It was easier for me to focus this year” said the beauty queen.
Dayton offers a word of advice for anyone who’s trying to enter the world of pageants and says, “Learn to walk with kings and queens but never lose the common touch. I want everybody to know that yes, I am a queen, but I am a queen for the people and I am here to serve” she said.
Also Read : When Katherine Espin almost gave up on her dream of becoming a beauty queen
Missouri has had only one Miss USA, Shandi Finnessey, who placed as 1st runner-up to Jennifer Hawkins of Australia in the Miss Universe 2004 pageant. And now, Dayton is the new Miss Missouri USA 2017 who succeeds Sydnee Stottlemyre, and will now represent Missouri in the coming edition of Miss USA 2017, wherein Deshauna Barber of District of Columbia will pass on her crown to her successor.
The young beauty is really passionate and is all prepped up for her major win. Who according to you will be the winner? Tell us your opinion in the comment section below, and let us know what you think are the chances of this beautiful ambassador of Missouri!