Contact:
Leah Seupersad, 404-413-1354
University Relations
ATLANTA—Annie Wilson decided she wanted to become Miss America at a young age.
The Georgia State University senior recently won the Miss Georgia State University Scholarship Pageant and will go on to compete in the Miss Georgia Pageant in June, a preliminary for the Miss America Pageant.
“As I got older I really realized that a Miss America woman is a woman that’s extraordinary, talented, intellectual and they are well-rounded women. I just really wanted to get involved and be a part of that,” Wilson said.
As Miss GSU, Wilson plans to promote her passion for mentoring around campus. Wilson has been mentoring girls at Atlanta’s Price Middle School for the last three years as a big sister in the Big Brother’s Big Sisters of America organization.
“I think that it’s important for children to have mentors at a young age. It’s a really impressionable time for them and they really deserve undivided attention from someone who doesn’t have to be there. Kids really appreciate that,” Wilson said.
Wilson’s time in the spotlight began when she was a child spokesperson for Tide laundry detergent. She was later a Junior Rams cheerleader for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League and she won the Miss Zeta Mu Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Scholarship Pageant.
Since then, the Georgia State psychology major was captain of the GSU varsity competition cheer team last year, a member of Infinite Appeal Modeling organization and a volunteer on the Spotlight Programs Board.
But winning Miss GSU took both “beauty and brains,” which was the theme of this year’s scholarship pageant. Wilson was one of 38 – a record number of contestants – who applied to be Miss GSU 2011.
Wilson won the talent and evening gown categories. She sung “At Last” by Etta James and wore an olive green evening gown.
“It’s way more than a beauty contest, it’s about intellectual ability and the ability to really communicate with people as a spokesperson for not only the Miss America organization, but for Children’s Miracle Network as well,” Wilson said.
As winner of the Miss GSU Pageant, Wilson received a $1,000 scholarship to help pay for her education. And besides winning the Miss Georgia pageant in June, her ultimate goal is to receive a doctorate and become an industrial organizational psychologist. She currently works as a gymnastics coach at the Buckhead Gymnastics Center.
“I felt really honored and blessed to win the Miss GSU pageant because Georgia State is such a great school and it’s wonderful to know that I’m a representation of the school and I just really want to do the best that I can,” said Wilson, who was crowned by Miss GSU 2010 Cierra Gilchrist. “I plan to be a presence on campus and to really be there for the students. I want to attend as many campus events that I possibly can, so people know who I am, and know I am really here to be Miss Georgia State University.”
She will represent Georgia State and the Miss America organization at a variety of charity events over the next few months, including Pumps for Pets in April and Salute to the Troops in May.
“The pageant helps young women develop self-confidence, leadership skills and performance ability,” said Tari H. Wimbley, assistant director for programs and coordinator of the Miss GSU Pageant. “The girls that competed this year mirrored the diversity of GSU through their academic majors, talents and individual stories.”
March 7, 2011