A beauty pageant is a competition that has always focused on ranking physical attributes. However, in the last decade, these contests have evolved to include personality, intelligence, talent and the contestant’s ability to answer questions based on various subjects.

This month, Jami and Katrina interviewed a local beauty pageant queen, Savannah Crawford, an 18 year old of Franklinton. Savannah is the current Teen Miss Pelican State. She also recently placed in the Top 15 at the Miss Louisiana Teen USA pageant.

In March of 2019, Savannah won her most recent title of Teen Miss Pelican State, but she also won a very special award that she was selected for personally by Jami and Katrina. That award was the Influencer Award, and it was given to any one contestant of the Pelican State Pageant who influences her friends and family as well as her fellow contestants with the brightest smile and the most influencing personality. That description fits Savannah to a T!

Savannah, a military brat, moved around to many schools as a child because of this. She believes she learned to flourish in social situations like beauty pageants, however, it wasn't always so easy. Savannah was a victim of bullying early on, and what she learned from her experience with that led her to start competing to build up her self confidence. Now, she goes to local schools and talks to other girls about self confidence and "knowing their worth."

Savannah was recently diagnosed with a heart condition called Dysantonomia, which means that her nervous system doesn't work with the brain to regulate her blood pressure. She has chosen to forgo medication and regulate her condition naturally. She changed her diet, follows a plan, takes natural supplements, and works out lightly. This condition has taught her how to adapt and overcome obstacles at a young age.

In her free time, Savannah is a normal teenager who will graduate high school this year and has a boyfriend of two years named Dallen, who is a baseball player at her school. The couple was just voted Most Beautiful/Handsome as well as Mr. and Miss PHS. It seems as if this couple has a bright future together.

When we asked Savannah about her love of competing in beauty pageants, she told us, “It is a job and you should have respect for it. Take it seriously, but don't forget to have fun.”

When we asked her about the Influencer Award she received, she shared that she was shocked to receive it considering where she came from, where she believed she wasn't good enough. And now, she was being awarded an award based solely on personality. She says she will always cherish it, and in this case, it really did pay off to have fun and be herself.

Her take away from the last pageant she was in, her most advanced so far, was that she's not perfect. She says, "I strive to be the best me I can be and that's good enough for me."

Savannah looks forward to attending Southeastern Louisiana University next year and getting her degree in Dental Hygiene, so she can begin her career as a Dental Hygienist, as well as continue to further her current career as a Makeup Artist.  She recently trained in Texas and opened her own Makeup Artistry business in her hometown, Savy Chic MUA. You can find it on Instagram as SavyChicMUA.

Look for Savannah Crawford to pass on her crown to the next young lady to win the Pelican State Teen Miss title on Saturday, March 7 at Ascension Community Theatre in Gonzales.

According to Brittney Robert, Executive Director for the Pelican State Pageant. The Miss, Teen and Mrs Pelican State Pageant, is an official prelim to competition to the Miss and Teen Louisiana USA pageant, in addition to the Mrs Louisiana America pageant honoring married women.

This is a great opportunity for all ladies, including those who are mothers and are married, to become a role model and spokesperson for their titles in their communities.

Email pelicanstatepageant@gmail.com if you are interested in attending or entering to compete.