By TARA HETTINGER
Tara.Hettinger@newsandtribune.com
NEW WASHINGTON —
Melanie Brison may call herself a small-town girl, but the New Washington native is preparing to take center stage, competing for the title of Miss Kentucky.
The 24-year-old won Miss University of Louisville earlier this month, one of the preliminaries to the Miss Kentucky competition that will be held this summer in Lexington.
The U of L preliminary included judging on talent, where she played piano, formal gown wear and swimsuit wear.
“[The swimsuit portion] was so nerve-racking,” Brison exclaimed. “I was so terrified, but that’s one of the things they teach you is just to be comfortable in your own skin and to bring forth what you have to offer and be judged on that.”
Brison, who was competing against 12 other women, found out she won the award for the best evening gown as well as the one for community service before the final winner was announced.
However, she said she had no idea she’d be the one standing alone with the crown in the end.
“I thought, ‘where do I stand? What do I do? What did we rehearse?’” she recalled with a laugh. “You think so hard on every other facet of the competition and executing everything and in the end you’re like ‘what do I do?’ I didn’t practice this part.’”
Brison called winning a “huge surprise and blessing.”
As part of winning the overall competition and for the community-service award, Brison got $2,000 in scholarship money. Brison, who is a junior majoring in music therapy, said that accounts to more than half the cost of tuition for next year.
Now, she is preparing for the state pageant, a preliminary to the Miss America Pageant.
“I’m nervous and excited. My coaches are working with me to prepare me for it,” she said, adding that they are helping her with interviewing skills and more. “I’m learning all I can on the state of Kentucky and getting educated on that.”
Brison said this is the 75th anniversary of the Miss Kentucky pageant, adding that 13 of the queens have been from Louisville.
“I’m hoping to be the 14th,” she said excitedly.
Brison said many from her hometown are supporting her, offering to take a trip to Lexington to cheer her on.
“I’m just really humbled and excited and honored to have this experience,” she said. “I’m looking forward to this experience very much.”
The pageant will be July 15-17 at the Singletary Center for the Arts in Lexington. For more information, go to www.missken
