Haleigh Hurst: Miss High School America

BRAVE means so much to me because of everything I been through and everything I stand for. BRAVE means hope. It gives people hope for a better tomorrow. It gives people hope that one day everyone can have the opportunity to believe in themselves.

Growing up it was hard to be myself and to truly believe in myself. I was 5’10 in sixth grade with speech patterns of Elmer Fudd from Looney Tunes. I was the easy target. I was mocked, called names, and made fun of constantly. I actually quit speaking up for myself and everything I was passionate about until high school. In seventh grade I decided I needed to make the changes necessary to take back the one thing that made me happy—my voice. By choosing to change the things I could change, and embrace the things I could not change, my life truly took a turn.

I began speech therapy and corrected my speech in six months when therapists said it would take two years. I worked hard day in and day out finding ways I could practice. I worked with my school’s speech therapist as well as a private one. I was driven. I chose to embrace my height because I was not getting any shorter.

My freshman year I began my own personal platform, “Your Uniqueness is Never a Weakness.” This teaches others that being different is what makes life interesting. I spoke to small groups and classrooms full of students as much as I could. The summer before my Junior year of high school, I published an illustrated anti-bullying children’s book, Shine Your Light. I now feel equipped to speak to anyone about the power of words and the power of one. By empowering our youth at a young age and instilling the ideas of respect and valuing everyone, I hope a younger generation will grow up loving who they are.

With this voice and power I chose to compete in the Miss High School America pageant. If I won, it would give me a national platform, BRAVE (Building Respect And Values for Everyone) to reach many more people all over the United States. In September of 2020, I shared my accomplishments and aspirations with judges. When pageant week was all said and done, I walked away with best in evening gown and the 2020 Miss High School America title. Throughout this next year I will travel all over the country speaking to schools and small groups. I also plan to start the first ever National BRAVE conference to promote anti-bullying in schools and prepare community leaders to speak out against this epidemic. I have learned in life to not let others define you and to use your voice to help others.