Miss Kansas Goes Viral With Powerful Statement

A moment from the Miss Kansas 2024 pageant is making the rounds on social media, with a powerful onstage reveal.

Alexis Smith of Butler County was officially crowned Miss Kansas on June 8, beating out 25 other candidates for the title, according to CBS affiliate KWCH-DT and Telegram from the Garden City.

Smith, 25, is only the third black woman to win the title, according to ABC affiliate KAKE.

During the pageant interview, which Smith shared on social media, she firmly stated that her goal as Miss Kansas would be to “eliminate unhealthy and abusive relationships.”

She then made a stunning statement: “Some of you in this audience have seen me very emotional, because my attacker is here today.”

“But that’s not going to stop me from stepping on the Miss Kansas stage and introducing myself as the next Miss Kansas,” she continued. “My community and I deserve healthy relationships. We deserve a life free of domestic violence.”

On July 16, a clip of the moment was shared on Smith’s official X account, which subsequently went viral.

Alongside the clip were the words “Respect Regained!” — a reference to his community service platform — and the message, “Our time for healthy relationships has come.”

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The post, which has been viewed more than 53,000 times, has been praised by countless social media users.

“Go for it girl. You make me proud of my home state,” one commenter wrote, while another replied, “I got chills. She’s amazing!”

A third added: “What an incredible way to take back your power. It gave me goosebumps. I know there are other victims watching it now, knowing they’re not alone.”

In a statement to PEOPLE, Smith said, “As Miss Kansas, my mission is deeply rooted in empowering people to break free from cycles of domestic violence and unhealthy relationships. My response on stage reflects my commitment to fostering a world where every individual feels safe, valued and able to thrive.”

“Through the Miss America program, I have found a powerful platform to amplify my voice and advocate for those who feel silenced or alone,” Smith added. “I will use my story as a catalyst for change, opening doors to inspire others and create a society where everyone can live free from fear and abuse.”

Talk to the Leader and timeSmith said her work with victims of domestic violence stems from her “own personal experiences… whether it was in my home or my own experiences falling into this cycle of violence at the age of 14.”

In an interview with NBC affiliate KSNW, she went on to say that “my family, every woman in my family, has been affected by domestic violence.”

Opening up a little more about her own experience, she said that when she was 14, she “got into my first relationship, but it was also an abusive relationship that I was in until about 2018, 2019. It’s something that I still deal with and deal with today.”

In a statement on Facebook, Smith added that on the night of the Miss Kansas pageant, “my journey took an unexpected turn when someone I was healing from tried to disrupt my inner peace. Instead of falling into silence, I chose to live my vision for a better world. I took back my power — not just for myself, but for my dreams and for everyone watching and listening.”

“It’s not about ignoring others,” she added. “It’s about turning our pain into purpose and channeling it in a way that unifies and uplifts.”

Smith told KWCH-DT she hopes to spread her message to young people in Kansas by using her ventriloquism skills, which were her talent during the Miss Kansas pageant, to reach them.

“Being able to create our own special ventriloquism dolls, filled with different characteristics of healthy relationships that they want to see in the people around them,” said Smith, who has been ventriloquizing for 19 years.

Smith will now represent Kansas in the next Miss America pageant in January 2025.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org. All calls are free and confidential. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in more than 170 languages.