FAIRMONT — A coronation is an emotion you never forget, and it’s one that current Miss West Virginia USA, Kaylee Simmons, knows all too well.
Simmons, a native of Franklin, West Virginia, won the title of Miss West Virginia USA at the 73rd annual Miss West Virginia USA pageant, held at the Virginia Thomas Law Center in Buckhannon on June 1, after winning the title of queen at the West Virginia Three Rivers Festival in March. Simmons will represent West Virginia in the Miss USA pageant, which will air live on the CW network on August 4.
“It’s such a surreal moment. It’s such an honor to represent the state,” she said.
Simmons has been using her experience at the Three Rivers Festival to prepare hard for the competition in August, where she will proudly wear her West Virginia sash on a national stage.
“I absolutely love the committee and wanted to represent them at Miss West Virginia USA,” Simmons said. “It’s an honor because the festival is such a prestigious event in our state.”
Simmons, who was crowned before the Three Rivers Festival, said her success at the Fairmont competition was crucial to her journey.
“It was a wonderful way to end the Three Rivers Festival weekend, and we are so excited to see Kaylee represent West Virginia,” said Festival Director Sharon Swearingen.
Simmons began competing at just seven years old and now holds 32 championship titles.
She also won a Community Impact Award at the state competition for an initiative called “Miles for Smiles.” Dental health is important to Simmons, a dental hygienist, so she created a program to educate rural school children about taking care of their teeth.
“I feel like we don’t talk about dental health enough, and our state has one of the poorest dental health outcomes, so I’m going to be focused on educating the next generation on the importance of it,” Simmons said.
Her passion for Miles for Smiles is just one of the driving forces behind her ambition to become Miss USA. If she wins, she dreams of expanding her efforts to contribute to the education of children across the country.
For Simmons, showcasing his hometown proudly is especially important.
“I know how beautiful West Virginia is, and I’ve made so many connections with the people of West Virginia through this, and they’re just as beautiful,” she said.
It takes a strong person to compete in the beauty pageant world, and those who know Simmons know that she is just that kind of person.
“She has incredible determination,” said Angela Patsy, Three Rivers Festival’s Teen and Queen Director. “Being mentally prepared has a lot to do with whether or not you can win a competition, and Kaylee had the time and focus to do so.”
Simmons has demonstrated this preparation and strength throughout her journey to Miss USA.
“I stayed calm because I kept repeating the phrase ‘what is given to me will not pass me by’ and that helped me stay calm and truly this is all down to God’s timing,” she said.
She is also motivated by honouring her older brother, who tragically died when she was just 20 years old.
“He always told me that one day he’d be Miss USA, so I do things for him. He’s always with me,” she said.
She plans to wear the Cardinal’s uniform as her official attire in honor of her hometown and her brother.
Simmons said she is grateful for pageants and all they teach people. She said winning a beauty pageant and wanting to be like the queens she watched as a child completely changed her life.
“This experience has changed my life in so many ways and I wouldn’t be where I am today without it. Pageants are so much more amazing than people think and I want people to understand that,” she said.
She is looking forward to representing West Virginia on the national stage.
“To be crowned Miss USA with a West Virginia badge on my chest is the ultimate dream and will give our state the recognition it truly deserves,” she said.
