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Miss Branson Sydney Friar came to the Miss Missouri Pageant uncertain if she would win, but confident she had a good chance. After capturing the crown Saturday night, she used four words to sum up her win — fifth time's a charm.
This is Friar's fifth time on the Miss Missouri stage. Last year, she represented Miss Lake of the Ozarks and ranked third runner-up. She said changing her mindset (about the pageant) made a huge difference this year.
"I think it was all a mental and emotional change for me. I think I just needed to take some of the pressure off myself, and sit back and realize that I can do all the preparing that I can leading up the week, but once the week begins, I needed to realize it's not in my hands anymore. I just needed to relax and enjoy the week and not have that pressure on me," Friar said.
Even after winning the crown, Friar admitted she had doubts that she would win.
"Every year you hope that year might be your year, but there's always a part of you that doesn't allow yourself to believe it, because you don't want to get your hopes up," Friar stated. "But this year, to be honest, I just came in with the mindset of having a good time, and that's what I did. I had no pressure. I was just here to have fun, and it paid off."
When she heard the first runner-up's name, Friar said, "Oh my gosh, I think I might have blacked out for a little bit. To be honest, I can't remember, because I was just freaking out and excited."
Friar said this year was a fantastic year for all the contestants; 100 percent of the women got along perfectly.
"I know that seems strange for pageant girls or girls in general, but truly we have," Friar said. The one thing, she felt, made a difference, was a Bible study that the contestants incorporated this year. "We did that because we wanted to keep our minds focused on what was really important – it's not about winning the crown. It's about making an impact in people's lives.
"When all of us shifted our focus to that, it really made the whole experience a lot more enjoyable, and took lot of pressure off and allowed us to compete to the best of our ability."
Over the next year, Friar plans to focus on her platform, which is family ties and reconnecting the family unit. Her belief is: "If relationships within the family unit continue to dwindle, we will continue to see a fall in the integrity of the society in which we live. Thus, to ensure a brighter future, we must be diligent about building positive relationships through healthy communication with our families."
After the pageant, she added, "I can't wait to get into the schools and start talking to people of all ages, and teaching them how to communicate more effectively."
As Miss Missouri, Friar received a $10,000 scholarship award, along with a fur jacket and photos from Missouri Trapper's Association and Fur Arts, Inc. Additionally, she was recognized as the preliminary evening wear winner and interview winner for the Alpha Group, which garnered $150 scholarships for each category.
The top 10 finalists recognized Saturday were Miss Gateway to the West Amanda Williams, Miss Osage River Jessica Arl, Miss Maryville Katy Reed, Miss Tri-Counties Lauren Alumbaugh, Miss Mid-Missouri Kari Gai, Miss Mark Twain Hillary Overfelt, Miss Springfield Tippe Emmott, Miss Kansas City Alexis Albright, Miss Jackson Mary Bauer, and Friar.
The top five were Bauer, Gai, Emmott, Williams and Friar. In the end, Gai was fourth runner-up, winning a $1,500 scholarship. Williams was third runner-up, earning a $2,000 scholarship. Bauer was second runner-up, winning a $3,000 scholarship; and Emmott was first runner-up, receiving a $4,000 scholarship. Each of the young ladies also received an additional $750 for making the top five.
In all, pageant contestants were awarded a total of more than $35,500 over the four-day competition. The Miss America pageant annually gives out more than $45 million in scholarships.
Before the Miss Missouri winner was announced, several other contestants were awarded scholarships.
Williams and Miss Northwest Danielle McKeirnan were each awarded $100 scholarships for winning the swimsuit preliminaries. McKeirnan also received the $250 non-finalist swimsuit scholarship; Bauer was awarded $150 for preliminary evening wear and another $150 for preliminary talent; Overfelt won $150 for the preliminary interview; Miss Hannibal Emily Wood won $150 for preliminary talent, a $250 non-finalist talent award (for the Alpha Group), and another $250 scholarship for being the contestant with the most talent points; Miss Audrain Jeni Dixon won the $250 non-finalist talent award; Miss Northeast Counties Jenna Osseck won a $250 non-finalist swimsuit scholarship, and the $250 non-finalist interview scholarship for the Alpha Group; Miss Lake of the Ozarks Malorie Howe won the $250 non-finalist interview scholarship for the Sigma Group; Miss River City Sawyer Powers won a $500 scholarship for the non-finalist with the most points, and the Newcomer Award as the rookie non-finalist with the most points.
Miss Crowder Quinn Dennis won the $100 Alumni Character Award, and the $250 French Family Smile Award. Gai won the $2,000 Miss America Scholar Award, which is given to each state pageant. Overfelt won the $300 Abby Scott Newcomer Award. Bauer won the $250 Mary Beth Williams Miss Missouri Leadership, and Miss Spirit of St. Louis Madison Burke won the $500 Commerce Bank Community Service Award.
Miss Branson Sydney Friar came to the Miss Missouri Pageant uncertain if she would win, but confident she had a good chance. After capturing the crown Saturday night, she used four words to sum up her win — fifth time's a charm.
This is Friar's fifth time on the Miss Missouri stage. Last year, she represented Miss Lake of the Ozarks and ranked third runner-up. She said changing her mindset (about the pageant) made a huge difference this year.
"I think it was all a mental and emotional change for me. I think I just needed to take some of the pressure off myself, and sit back and realize that I can do all the preparing that I can leading up the week, but once the week begins, I needed to realize it's not in my hands anymore. I just needed to relax and enjoy the week and not have that pressure on me," Friar said.
Even after winning the crown, Friar admitted she had doubts that she would win.
"Every year you hope that year might be your year, but there's always a part of you that doesn't allow yourself to believe it, because you don't want to get your hopes up," Friar stated. "But this year, to be honest, I just came in with the mindset of having a good time, and that's what I did. I had no pressure. I was just here to have fun, and it paid off."
When she heard the first runner-up's name, Friar said, "Oh my gosh, I think I might have blacked out for a little bit. To be honest, I can't remember, because I was just freaking out and excited."
Friar said this year was a fantastic year for all the contestants; 100 percent of the women got along perfectly.
"I know that seems strange for pageant girls or girls in general, but truly we have," Friar said. The one thing, she felt, made a difference, was a Bible study that the contestants incorporated this year. "We did that because we wanted to keep our minds focused on what was really important – it's not about winning the crown. It's about making an impact in people's lives.
"When all of us shifted our focus to that, it really made the whole experience a lot more enjoyable, and took lot of pressure off and allowed us to compete to the best of our ability."
Over the next year, Friar plans to focus on her platform, which is family ties and reconnecting the family unit. Her belief is: "If relationships within the family unit continue to dwindle, we will continue to see a fall in the integrity of the society in which we live. Thus, to ensure a brighter future, we must be diligent about building positive relationships through healthy communication with our families."
After the pageant, she added, "I can't wait to get into the schools and start talking to people of all ages, and teaching them how to communicate more effectively."
As Miss Missouri, Friar received a $10,000 scholarship award, along with a fur jacket and photos from Missouri Trapper's Association and Fur Arts, Inc. Additionally, she was recognized as the preliminary evening wear winner and interview winner for the Alpha Group, which garnered $150 scholarships for each category.
The top 10 finalists recognized Saturday were Miss Gateway to the West Amanda Williams, Miss Osage River Jessica Arl, Miss Maryville Katy Reed, Miss Tri-Counties Lauren Alumbaugh, Miss Mid-Missouri Kari Gai, Miss Mark Twain Hillary Overfelt, Miss Springfield Tippe Emmott, Miss Kansas City Alexis Albright, Miss Jackson Mary Bauer, and Friar.
The top five were Bauer, Gai, Emmott, Williams and Friar. In the end, Gai was fourth runner-up, winning a $1,500 scholarship. Williams was third runner-up, earning a $2,000 scholarship. Bauer was second runner-up, winning a $3,000 scholarship; and Emmott was first runner-up, receiving a $4,000 scholarship. Each of the young ladies also received an additional $750 for making the top five.
In all, pageant contestants were awarded a total of more than $35,500 over the four-day competition. The Miss America pageant annually gives out more than $45 million in scholarships.
Before the Miss Missouri winner was announced, several other contestants were awarded scholarships.
Williams and Miss Northwest Danielle McKeirnan were each awarded $100 scholarships for winning the swimsuit preliminaries. McKeirnan also received the $250 non-finalist swimsuit scholarship; Bauer was awarded $150 for preliminary evening wear and another $150 for preliminary talent; Overfelt won $150 for the preliminary interview; Miss Hannibal Emily Wood won $150 for preliminary talent, a $250 non-finalist talent award (for the Alpha Group), and another $250 scholarship for being the contestant with the most talent points; Miss Audrain Jeni Dixon won the $250 non-finalist talent award; Miss Northeast Counties Jenna Osseck won a $250 non-finalist swimsuit scholarship, and the $250 non-finalist interview scholarship for the Alpha Group; Miss Lake of the Ozarks Malorie Howe won the $250 non-finalist interview scholarship for the Sigma Group; Miss River City Sawyer Powers won a $500 scholarship for the non-finalist with the most points, and the Newcomer Award as the rookie non-finalist with the most points.
Miss Crowder Quinn Dennis won the $100 Alumni Character Award, and the $250 French Family Smile Award. Gai won the $2,000 Miss America Scholar Award, which is given to each state pageant. Overfelt won the $300 Abby Scott Newcomer Award. Bauer won the $250 Mary Beth Williams Miss Missouri Leadership, and Miss Spirit of St. Louis Madison Burke won the $500 Commerce Bank Community Service Award.
