TEXARKANA, Texas — A state titleholder for the Creole state with Texarkana roots is preparing to crown her successor and is looking back to share about her time as Miss Louisiana.
Olivia Grace George, who hails from Texarkana, Texas, will soon conclude her time as Miss Louisiana.
George said that even towards the end of her tenure as Miss Louisiana that she was just as busy as usual, if not more busy.
“There’s so many fun events that take place during the spring and early summer,” George said. “I’m soaking up every moment, and I love every event that’s on my schedule.”
George expanded on her time at the Miss America pageant, which was held in December of last year, saying that it was “everything she imagined and more.”
“It was so incredible to represent my state of Louisiana on a national stage and to meet so many incredible young women (from) across the country who were there to lead and represent,” George said. “It was definitely a dream.”
Raised in Texarkana by educator parents, George is set to start a master’s degree program soon in education at Louisiana Tech University, utilizing the $17,000 in scholarship funds from winning her title.
“I’m a third-generation educator,” George said in a previous Gazette story. “I’ve just always grown up in a household that loves education and grew up around teacher talk, and so I’ve always had a love for education.”
The educator and pageant winner had a community service initiative centered around education called “Education is Key.” She said she hoped to inspire students to make a difference inside and outside the classroom.
“I’ve been very fortunate to speak to a little over 4,500 students,” George said. “I talk about the importance of education and help students rediscover that love for learning.
George said her program utilizes five “keys”: respect, kindness, determine, positive and “the broken key.”
“We talk about how sometimes in life, we set our heart, our mind on a goal, and we might not be able to get there the first time. But if we use our other keys, our other strengths, and we continue to stay positive and determined, we will reach that goal eventually,” George said.
When asked what advice she would give to someone looking to pursue a state title, George simply said two words: “Do it.”
“Go after your dreams,” George said. “If there’s any bit of you that … wants to go do something, go for it. Because you never know what could happen.”
George said she has been leaning on a quote her mom read and that it had kind of become her mantra for the year.
“We really do grow in the uncomfortable,” George said. “In a position like Miss Louisiana or in any leadership position, sometimes you’re going to come face to face with a chance to grow out of your comfort zone.”
George said she has learned to become prepared for anything and everything, from having an extra pair of shoes because her high heels broke to keeping extra interview dresses on hand.
“You are expected to be prepared for all of these things and to have all of these things,” George said. “That’s one thing I’ve really learned for this job, is to be prepared for everything.”
The educator-to-be said she was grateful to her family, the Miss Louisiana board, sponsors and the organization.
“I’m grateful to everyone that has supported me along the way, and I’ve cherished every single experience and memory with every person that has been made throughout this year,” George said.
