Ashton Campbell
Miss Arkansas’ Outstanding Teen 2011 (Miss Photogenic @ Miss MAOT 2012)
Why did you decide to compete in the "Miss South Arkansas' Outstanding Teen" pageant?
Well, I was really drawn to pageants because of the scholarship aspect of it all. The Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen program really provides such generous scholarships, and college is definitely not cheap! Also, I have always tried to find creative new ways to get involved in the community and had grown up performing in front of crowds. When I learned of the MAOT organization, I quickly realized that pageants would provide me with the perfect outlet to do the things I love and am passionate about.
Tell us about your platform, "Bridging the Generations".
Growing up, I loved to volunteer in nursing homes in my area. When I began competing in pageants, I had to develop my platform, and I chose “Bridging the Generations”. My platform focuses on breaking down communication barriers that exist between various generations in order to create a unified and respectable environment for the future generations to come. I love working with my platform, and I think that that is the key; to be truly passionate about what you are promoting and introducing to people.
Tell us about the "Senior Stanley Project".
I based the Senior Stanley project off of the infamous Flat Stanley children’s book, and it has been such a success with the different groups I am able to work with. The project entails collecting senior’s photographs and carrying them with us as we travel. Meanwhile, we document the stories and experiences we have and send letters back to our senior citizen friends. In doing this, we hope to provide our new friends with entertainment and company while hypothetically giving them the capabilities to see the world again.
What was going through your head when you were announced as Miss Photogenic at Miss America's Outstanding Teen?
Literally, I thought, “Oh my gosh, did they just call Arkansas?!”
I had absolutely no expectations at all when I did my Tony Bowls photogenic shoot with the incredible Jen Cady. I was having such a blast at the shoot, I did not even think about the possibility of winning the photogenic award. When I heard my name, I was ecstatic. I then had the opportunity to engage in another photo shoot with Jen in Las Vegas, at the Miss America pageant! I had the time of my life and landed the cover of Fourpoints magazine, which had always been a dream of mine!
What would be your most memorable moment as Miss Arkansas's Outstanding Teen?
Last year while standing backstage preparing for the onstage question portion of competition, I was asking myself questions and getting my thoughts in order. The funny thing is, I kept coming back to this one idea about the youth showing respect for our veterans and what I would do to encourage that. Moments later, when I stepped onto the stage, I was asked this question, “Having the platform of Bridging the Generations, how would you encourage today’s youth to support our veterans?”
As you can imagine, I almost passed out! God definitely had me in his hands and I was able to nail that question, which inevitably resulted in my title. I will never forget how that moment felt.
Lastly, what have you been up to since your reign as Miss Arkansas' Outstanding Teen ended?
Since giving up my title, I have been blessed with so many opportunities. I attended an incredible leadership program called LEAP, in Los Angeles, where I met so many amazing people including Bill Dorfman, Paula Abdul, and James Mallinchak. All of these people really inspired me to work harder in my life, and as a result, I immediately applied for an internship with the National Society of Leadership and Success. Although it is not a freshman internship, I was blessed to receive the position, and am currently starting the first ever chapter of NSLS at the University of Arkansas. I am a freshman at this amazing University, and just recently pledged as a Chi Omega! I cannot wait to see what else is in store for my life, and eventually hope to compete for the title of Miss Arkansas!
Well, I was really drawn to pageants because of the scholarship aspect of it all. The Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen program really provides such generous scholarships, and college is definitely not cheap! Also, I have always tried to find creative new ways to get involved in the community and had grown up performing in front of crowds. When I learned of the MAOT organization, I quickly realized that pageants would provide me with the perfect outlet to do the things I love and am passionate about.
Tell us about your platform, "Bridging the Generations".
Growing up, I loved to volunteer in nursing homes in my area. When I began competing in pageants, I had to develop my platform, and I chose “Bridging the Generations”. My platform focuses on breaking down communication barriers that exist between various generations in order to create a unified and respectable environment for the future generations to come. I love working with my platform, and I think that that is the key; to be truly passionate about what you are promoting and introducing to people.
Tell us about the "Senior Stanley Project".
I based the Senior Stanley project off of the infamous Flat Stanley children’s book, and it has been such a success with the different groups I am able to work with. The project entails collecting senior’s photographs and carrying them with us as we travel. Meanwhile, we document the stories and experiences we have and send letters back to our senior citizen friends. In doing this, we hope to provide our new friends with entertainment and company while hypothetically giving them the capabilities to see the world again.
What was going through your head when you were announced as Miss Photogenic at Miss America's Outstanding Teen?
Literally, I thought, “Oh my gosh, did they just call Arkansas?!”
I had absolutely no expectations at all when I did my Tony Bowls photogenic shoot with the incredible Jen Cady. I was having such a blast at the shoot, I did not even think about the possibility of winning the photogenic award. When I heard my name, I was ecstatic. I then had the opportunity to engage in another photo shoot with Jen in Las Vegas, at the Miss America pageant! I had the time of my life and landed the cover of Fourpoints magazine, which had always been a dream of mine!
What would be your most memorable moment as Miss Arkansas's Outstanding Teen?
Last year while standing backstage preparing for the onstage question portion of competition, I was asking myself questions and getting my thoughts in order. The funny thing is, I kept coming back to this one idea about the youth showing respect for our veterans and what I would do to encourage that. Moments later, when I stepped onto the stage, I was asked this question, “Having the platform of Bridging the Generations, how would you encourage today’s youth to support our veterans?”
As you can imagine, I almost passed out! God definitely had me in his hands and I was able to nail that question, which inevitably resulted in my title. I will never forget how that moment felt.
Lastly, what have you been up to since your reign as Miss Arkansas' Outstanding Teen ended?
Since giving up my title, I have been blessed with so many opportunities. I attended an incredible leadership program called LEAP, in Los Angeles, where I met so many amazing people including Bill Dorfman, Paula Abdul, and James Mallinchak. All of these people really inspired me to work harder in my life, and as a result, I immediately applied for an internship with the National Society of Leadership and Success. Although it is not a freshman internship, I was blessed to receive the position, and am currently starting the first ever chapter of NSLS at the University of Arkansas. I am a freshman at this amazing University, and just recently pledged as a Chi Omega! I cannot wait to see what else is in store for my life, and eventually hope to compete for the title of Miss Arkansas!