"As Miss Kansas, my platform is deeply rooted in empowering people to break free from cycles of domestic violence," Alexis Smith tells PEOPLE
Miss Kansas Organization & Bill Rea
Alexis SmithA moment from the 2024 Miss Kansas pageant is making the rounds on social media, which featured a powerful onstage revelation.
Alexis Smith, of Butler County, was officially crowned Miss Kansas on June 8, beating out 25 other contestants for the title, according to CBS affiliate KWCH-DT and Garden City Telegram.
Smith, 25, is just the third Black woman to win the title, per ABC affiliate KAKE.
During the interview portion of the contest, which Smith shared on social media, she firmly stated her goal as Miss Kansas would be to “eliminate unhealthy and abusive relationships.”
She then made a stunning declaration: “Some of you out in this audience saw me very emotional, because my abuser is here today.”
“But that's not going to stop me from being on this Miss Kansas stage and representing as the next Miss Kansas," she continued. "I and my community deserve healthy relationships. We deserve a domestic [violence]-free life.”
On July 16, a clip of the moment got shared on Smith's official X account, which then went viral.
Alongside the clip read the words, “Respect Reclaimed!” — a reference to her community service platform — as well as the message, “Our time is now for healthy relationships.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Miss Kansas Organization & Bill Rea
Alexis SmithThe post, which has over 53 thousand views, drew praise from countless social media users.
"YOU GO GIRL. YOU make me proud of my home state " wrote one commenter, while another replied, "I just got chills. She's amazing!"
Added a third, "What an amazing way to take your power back. I got goosebumps. I know there are other victims watching her now knowing they aren’t alone."
In a statement to PEOPLE, Smith says that: “As Miss Kansas, my platform is deeply rooted in empowering people to break free from cycles of domestic violence and unhealthy relationships. My answer on stage reflects my commitment to fostering a world where every individual feels safe, valued, and empowered to thrive."
"Through the Miss America program, I have found a powerful platform to amplify my voice and advocate for those who may feel silenced or alone," Smith adds. "I will use my story as a catalyst for change kicking open doors to inspire others and create a society where everyone can live free from fear and abuse.”
Speaking with the Leader and Times, Smith said that her work with domestic violence victims stems from her "own personal experiences...whether that was in my household or my own experiences of falling into that cycle of abuse at the age of 14."
In an interview with NBC affiliate KSNW she went on to say that "my family, every single woman in my family, was impacted by domestic violence."
Opening up some more about her own experience, she said that when she was 14 she "got in my first relationship, but it was also an abusive relationship that I was in until about 2018, 2019. It’s something that I’m still experiencing and dealing with today.”
In a statement on Facebook, Smith went on to say that on the night of the Miss Kansas pageant, “my journey took an unexpected turn when someone I have been healing from tried to disrupt my peace. Instead of falling into silence, I chose to live out my vision for a better world. I took back my power – not just for myself, but for my dreams and everyone watching and listening."
"This isn’t about shunning others," she added. "It’s about turning our pain into purposes and channeling it in a way that unifies and uplifts.”
Related: 60-Year-Old Lawyer Makes History by Being Crowned Miss Universe Buenos Aires
Miss Kansas Organization & Bill Rea
Alexis SmithSmith told KWCH-DT she hopes to spread her message to the youth in Kansas by using her skills in ventriloquism, which was her talent during the Miss Kansas contest, to reach them.
"Being able to create our own special ventriloquism dolls that are filled with different characteristics of healthy relationships that they want to see in the people around them," said Smith, who has been doing ventriloquism for 19 years.
Smith will now go on to represent Kansas at the next Miss America competition in Jan. 2025.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.
