Two Auburn ladies stepped off campus and onto the stage at the Miss Alabama USA 2015 pageant, strutting to success.
Liz Willis, junior in communication, placed first runner up to Miss Alabama USA and Caroline Pettey, sophomore in broadcast journalism, placed fourth runner up.
Contestants were judged on evening gown modeling, swimsuit modeling and interview, all of which require preliminary training.
Willis and Pettey's preparation ranged from exercising and dieting to interview and walking practice.
Bill Alverson, a widely acclaimed pageant coach and coach for the past three Miss USA winners, has mentored Pettey for the past few years.
Auburn graduate, Alverson is an attorney, specializing in polishing contestant interviews, public presence, and resumes as he brings legal development skills to the pageant world.
"My mission is to empower girls to use their brain -- get self-confidence and self awareness," Alverson said. "Be a modern day Cleopatra...not just the prettiest girl in the room."
He said Pettey is great student and quick learner.
"She has an amazing presence. Training givers her confidence that makes her nearly unbeatable."
Willis said her older sister Rebecca Willis serves as an inspiration to her because Rebecca Willis suffered from severe dyslexia at a young age, was told she'd never graduate high school or go to college, but is currently in college, has a 4.0, and recently passed the Georgia Assessments for the Certification of Educators (GACE) test.
"I'm never going to give up," Liz Willis stated. "Because as long as she's fighting for her dreams, I'm going to fight for mine."
Rebecca Willis said she admires her sister as well, believing she has a unique and driving personality that contributes to her success in the pageants.
"Knowing Liz, I know she is who she is," Rebecca Willis said. "It's not like she changes her personality or who she is when she's on stage. It's her."
Liz Willis and Pettey have both participated in pageants since high school, and continue to do so for different reasons.
Pettey said she competes in pageants because of the opportunities it presents for her future.
"I've received $25,000 in scholarship to Auburn through pageants and it has given me a confidence and happiness that nothing else ever gave me before I started competing," she said.
Liz Willis, after reading anonymous posts online last year about her waist being too wide to be Miss Alabama, set out to prove them wrong this year, though that was only part of her motivation for the pageant.
"I love to see my hard work pay off and have something to be proud of," Liz Willis said. "To take the negative criticism and turn it into a positive experience for me and show others that no matter what you do there's going to be somebody or something that's going to try to tear you down. You just have to ignore it. Nobody's perfect."
Both girls said their placement gives them further confidence to compete next year.
"Knowing I was on [the judges'] radar the entire time was just amazing and gives me inspiration and hope to compete next year," Pettey said.
"I plan to move up a slot next year and win," Liz Willis stated. "I recommend that every girl do [the pageant]. No matter what, everyone ends up having a great time."
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