By Future Brown
Herald Democrat
Sherman native Jalyn Adams will be back on stage this weekend when she competes in the Miss Texas for America Strong pageant for the third time as Miss Grayson County.
Adam’s first pageant was in 2023 where she earned the first runner up placement. Then in 2024, she again was named first runner up.
“I am so excited,” she said about preparing for the competition that will take place this weekend.” I feel way more confident than ever before. I have learned that the interview is the most important part of the competition. Over the last couple of years, I have been mastering my communication skills where I can walk into any room and speak comfortably. That really has boosted my confidence going into the competition this week.”
Adams, born and raised in Sherman, graduated from high school in 2013. She became a licensed vocational nurse after studying in Gainesville, and a year and a half ago, Adams became a registered nurse following coursework at Grayson College. Adams is a pediatric nurse working with special needs children, and this weekend she will be back before a large audience vying for the Miss Texas crown.
“I have been working internally on myself,” she said this week. “I have been reading self-help books. I have gone to the annual women’s day conferences. I have been pouring into Jalyn. So often we pour into other people, and we get caught up in being a mom or whoever we are in our career that we forget who we are as a person. But, we have to have that identity first before we can go and be anyone else to anyone else.”
Here are four things to know about Adams and her run for Miss Texas for America Strong.
1. First runner up
The 2023 installment of the Miss Texas pageant was Adams’ first trek at a pageant.
“I did not know what to expect whatsoever,” Adams said in 2024 about her 2023 experience. “I went into the pageant completely overwhelmed. Literally, the former Miss Texas and Mrs. Texas and everyone was trying to help me.”
After her first appearance in the pageant, Adams did not think she would do it again.
“After that it was so overwhelming and it took so much, I said to myself, ‘I am not doing this again,’ she said.
But this is Adams’ third attempt at the crown and participating in the pageant is bigger than just one moment. It is about what she wants to do in the future.
“I want the judges to know more about me and who I am as a person,” she said. “You cannot go into an interview room and speak comfortably if you do not know who you are as a person. I feel that is where the self-care came in. I can go and tell people who I am and who I represent.
“I am an advocate for inclusivity in the special needs community,” she said. One of the things I would like to start up is a pageant geared toward special needs children where it gives them the opportunity to showcase their talent. I want them to be able to showcase their abilities rather than their disabilities. I want to effectively communicate that to the judges.”
2. The making of the sisterhood
Back in 2024, Adams said she most enjoyed learning about the women who were ultimately her competition. She said even though only one person will earn the crown, the pageant itself is not a divided place.
“The most fun part for me is getting to the hotel and meeting different women,” Adams said. “I like learning about their platforms and seeing what they stand for. I compare pageants to a women’s conference because it is just women pouring into each other. By the end of the weekend, I feel so uplifted and ready to conquer the whole work week. It is just a very uplifting time. I think that is the thing I am most looking forward to.”
3. Competition breakdown
“There is a Miss category and a Mrs. category,” she explained in 2024. “Usually about a month before the pageant, they do a Facebook like contest. They post all of the contestant’s pictures for each category. That is really when I see who I am going against. People have to like the contest page and like the picture of the contestant they want to win, and that counts as a vote.”
Adams will not be the only person representing the region. Mrs. North Texas Secily Commons will be competing in the Mrs. Texas for America Strong pageant held the same weekend.
During the competition, the women will be competing in several categories including interview, fitness and evening gown.
“The first day is the prelims,” Adams said. “That will be Friday. We run through everything and that will be the first time the judges see you. The next morning, we do the interview. That is 50 percent of the score. Later that night, the top five will be announced at finals. Then we will go in and run through the swimsuit and all of those things. We also have a stage question before the winner is announced.”
4. The making of Jalyn
What sets this year’s competition apart from last year’s for Adams is her understanding of herself.
“I am very resilient,” she said. “I have always known that but going into this pageant for the third time, getting first runner up two years in a row and coming back again really shows how resilient I am. I started off as a young mom and I broke that stigma that young moms cannot be successful. I have been a nurse for over 9 years. It just brought that resilience to light that if I would hard for something, I will go and try my best to accomplish it. I hope I capture the crown this weekend.”
And for the young women looking at those who step forward into pageants or onto platforms before others, Adams said know who you are and everything else will be fine.
“With enough effort, you can accomplish your goals,” she said of the message she would give to her daughters.
“Do not let anyone tell you otherwise,” she continued. “You can break any barriers in your past. Your road might look different from someone else’s. But you can still accomplish great things with grit and hard work. For me, a lot of people did not see the bumpy roads. They just see the end results. But, there were different parts of my life that were very trying. I would say to little girls to never give up. Do not stop trying.”
Heading into this weekend, Adams also thanked those who have been behind her in this journey along with her friends and family.
“I would also like to thank my top sponsors Cravens Funeral Home, Angels of Care Pediatric Home Health, Mom Queen Boutique and Kimberly Hughes Photography,” she said.
The Miss Texas for America Strong pageant will be livestreamed. For more information, scan the QR code next to this story.
