The newly crowned pageant queen in Kansas has captured widespread attention for calling out her alleged abuser while on stage.
Alexis Smith, 25, shared a clip on social media one month after she won the title that captured her bold response to a question about her vision as the next ambassador for the Miss Kansas organization.
“My vision as the next Miss Kansas is to eliminate unhealthy and abusive relationships,” she stated during the June 8 contest. “Matter of fact, some of you out in this audience saw me very emotional because my abuser is here today. But that’s not going to stop me from being on this Miss Kansas stage and from representing as the next Miss Kansas.”
“I, and my community, deserve healthy relationships, we deserve a domestic [violence] free life,” she continued.
Her answer appeared to take the audience by surprise but was supported by an explosion of applause.
Ms. Smith did not identify her alleged abuser. She also has not disclosed details of her experience.
“On the night of Miss Kansas, my journey took an unexpected turn when someone I have been healing from tried to disrupt my peace,” she later explained in a Facebook post.
“Instead of falling into silence, I chose to live out my vision for a better world,” she added. “I took back my power—not just for myself, but for my dreams and everyone watching and listening.
She also said that “every single woman” in her family has been “impacted by domestic violence.”
Ms. Smith maintained that calling out her abuser was not about “shunning others” but meant to encourage others to turn “pain into purpose and channeling it in a way that unifies and uplifts.”
The newly crowned pageant queen told a local media outlet that she even moved to Texas for a couple of years after she escaped the relationship. She then returned to Wichita to study nursing at Newman University. The Wichita native, who represented Butler County in the pageant, works as a full-time cardiothoracic intensive care nurse.
Since winning the coveted pageant title, Ms. Smith has received an outpouring of support online from others who commended her courage for making such a bold move and inspired others who may be afraid to come forward with their own personal experiences with domestic violence.
“You are and will be an inspiration to many people! Bravo for standing up for yourself and others,” an individual commented.
“Brains, beauty, and self-respect. Kansas should be proud of her!” someone else wrote in response to her post.
Every year, nearly 10 million women and men become victims of domestic violence, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Every minute, about 20 people are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States, the data states.
Ms. Smith, who pledged to use her story to inspire others, is set to compete in the Ms. America pageant in January 2025.