Sasha Bush
Ashland Beacon
True beauty is the opposite of perfection! True beauty is all about confidence, charisma, and character- three very different characteristics that together are a force to be reckoned with. Often time when we think of beauty pageants, we think of ballgowns, flawless hair and makeup, and beautiful young ladies competing for a crown. Many people fail to realize that beauty pageants are so much more. Beauty pageants not only showcase one's outer beauty but more importantly they give young ladies a chance to show the world that they are so much more than just a pretty face. The young ladies who compete in beauty pageants are not only competing based on their physical appearance but more importantly, they are there to let their inner beauty shine.
No one understands this better than local Russell native Mia Ferguson. Ferguson, a graduate of the Russell High School class of 2021, has big dreams and those dreams are becoming more and more of a reality. On Feb. 24, 2023, Ferguson will be representing her hometown of Russell, Kentucky at the Miss Kentucky USA Pageant of 2023. Ferguson shared, "I am so honored and grateful to be able to represent my hometown and the community that means so much to me. I have had so much support from family, friends, and local businesses. I am so thankful for everyone's support.”
Growing up, Ferguson always had big dreams. "I've always had a desire to do some kind of modeling. Being an athlete, I used to say I wanted to be a Nike model,” Ferguson laughed. “I am grateful to have recently had the opportunity to sign with and be represented by NV Models & Talent Agency in Cincinnati. I'm so excited to be a part of this organization and am excited about the opportunities it will present me. Since a young age, I also wanted to be the CEO of my own company. My parents both own their own business, so I've grown up watching them. My dad owns his own financial investment firm and used to talk to me about stocks and how the stock market works. I became very interested in following certain stocks and decided to pursue a career as a Financial Consultant myself." Ferguson is currently a sophomore at Georgetown and is double majoring in Finance and Accounting. She has been named to the Dean's List two years in a row.
As a young girl, Ferguson had often competed in beauty pageants and recalled her first pageant when she was crowned Jr. Miss Boyd County Fair at just nine years old. It wasn't until recently that she decided to dive back into the pageant world. "I've always had an interest in it (competing in the Miss Kentucky Pageant). My mom competed in the Miss KY USA and Miss KY America, and I always thought it would be a really fun experience. I loved wearing her crown when I was little. I was always so busy with school, playing tennis, and all the extracurricular activities I was involved in that I never really made a decision to fully pursue it. Last year I tore the labrum in my shoulder (for the second time) and that ended my tennis career. I decided to really focus my efforts more on competing," noted Ferguson.
After competing in a few local competitions and claiming the title of Miss Russell Kentucky, Ferguson was ready to take to the big stage. In June 2022, Ferguson had the opportunity to compete at a state level in the Kentucky Miss Pageant. Not only was she recognized as a state finalist, but she also won the Academic Achievement Award, Community Service Award, and Best Smile. Ferguson is thrilled to have the opportunity to compete in this year's Miss Kentucky Pageant and to be able to bring awareness to a local organization that she holds near and dear to her heart. "My goal is to go have fun, meet new people, and do the very best I can. Obviously, I would love to win the title, but my goal is to focus on the things that are in my control. I would love to bring awareness to the Amy For Africa organization and the wonderful work being done to help people with the most desperate needs. I was fortunate to be able to go on a mission trip to Uganda with this organization, and it truly changed me. I was so blessed. Not only are Amy and Chris providing education, food, and clothing to children in need, but most importantly, they are teaching about God's love. I know many people near us also have the same needs, so my message would be to help anyone you can, anytime you can, and always share God's love. I have enjoyed volunteering for many organizations from the Julie Ditty Qualls Foundation to Prevent Child Abuse KY and Prevent Child Abuse America as well as the Girl Scouts of America. I've always been actively volunteering in many facets of my community. I want to make people aware that ultimately, we all need the same things in life… Christ, love from others, and our basic needs met." shared Ferguson.
Ferguson is such a well-rounded young lady that many people wonder what it is she does to stay so laser-focused and grounded. Ferguson commented, "Well, studying for six college classes will definitely keep you grounded! Between my studies and preparation, there isn't a lot of free time right now. I try to watch the news and stay up on current events. I go to the gym. I also attend sessions to work on my modeling and interview skills, but I plan to just go be myself. I believe that is the best approach to take. Just be authentic." As a role model for young girls, Ferguson is certainly one of the best and seems wise beyond her years. Ferguson declared, "Always believe in yourself. Don't be afraid to take the first step toward a change because the greatest rewards come from that. It will seem the hardest, but once you do that, you will be so glad you did. Don't let the fact that you may be from a small town or feel that you don't have the same resources or opportunities stop you from pursuing your dreams and goals. If you put forth the work and the effort, you can accomplish anything. Just be kind to others along the way and always, always stay true to yourself because you were created in God's image, and you are good enough!"
This young lady possesses not only beauty both inside and out but also the brains to accomplish any goal set before her. She will undoubtedly make her hometown of Russell, Kentucky and surrounding areas proud beyond measure. If you would like to help support this inspiring young lady, you can do so by casting your vote for her for the People's Choice Award. Ferguson added one final comment, "I would love to add that a very important component of the pageant is the People's Choice Award! The girl who wins this automatically gets into the semifinals, which is a huge deal! If anyone would like to support me by voting, I would greatly appreciate it! Each vote is $5, and you can vote as many times as you wish. There is a place on the site that will ask you how many votes you want to cast. The link to vote is misskentuckyusa.com/vote. You can vote any time before 11:59 p.m. Feb. 24."
