Shoals native looks ahead to Miss America

MUSCLE SHOALS — The Shoals will be on a national stage in less than three months when 2016 Muscle Shoals High alum Makalyn Heaslett competes for the Miss America crown.

Heaslett, who is working on her master’s degree in sport administration at Belmont University, was crowned Miss Tennessee Saturday night.

Heaslett, who was crowned Miss Nashville last year, was not an avid pageant participant growing up.

Competing in pageants was not Heaslett’s focus until her ninth-grade year when her physical science teacher Mallory Kincaid introduced her to the pageant world.

“One thing about me, I love teaching science, but more so I love teaching the kids that they come first, content comes second,” said Kincaid, who was crowned Miss UNA in 2005.

Kincaid’s student-first approach to teaching solidified a bond between the two which extended beyond the classroom.

When Heaslett was unsure as to how she would pay for college, Kincaid introduced her to the opportunities the Miss America Organization provides.

“I competed for several years, it provided me a lot of scholarship opportunities,” Kincaid said of her time competing for Miss Alabama.

Kincaid began coaching Heaslett on interviews, evening gown presentations and building confidence, of which she said, “she was a natural.”

“She’s one of a kind,” Kincaid said of Heaslett.

Heaslett was hesitant of competition at first but ultimately she held titles such as Miss Trojan Beauty and Distinguished Young Woman of Colbert County before graduating high school.

“She really took me under her wing,” Heaslett said of Kincaid.

Kincaidacceptedaposition as an Instructional Coach at Auburn Junior High School shortly before Heaslett attended Auburn University.

Their bond and mentorship continued throughout Heaslett’s collegiate career, during which she competed for the Miss Alabama title.

While she could not attend the Miss Tennessee competition last week, Kincaid wrote a note for Heaslett to open on each day of competition.

“All of our kids deserve a champion,” Kincaid said.

Those notes of encouragement continue pushed Heaslett to reach for greater goals, and now she’s doing the same through Girls Inc., which is an organization providing resources and mentorship to young girls, expanded to the founding of her own initiative.

“I realized it was a program I would have thrived in growing up,” Heaslett said. “I grew up with a single mom who worked three jobs.”

Just as the Miss America Organization provided her with opportunities to attend college, Heaslett has raised more than $23,000 to support Girls Inc. programs across Alabama, Illinois and Tennessee.

While volunteering with Girls Inc., she noticed that there were many young boys that could benefit from mentorship as well.

Heaslett’s community service initiative is “Be Bold, Brave & Brilliant.”

“Believe it or not, the name came from a sign I saw in a Hobby Lobby,” she said.

Her mission is to empower young people to be bold in their beliefs, brave when facing challenges and brilliant in their decisions.

While the celebration of winning the Miss Tennessee crown has continued over the past four days, Heaslett said it’s time to get back to work.

The months ahead include perfecting her talent, taking official Miss America headshots and “doing as many mock interviews as possible,” she said.