CourtesyMiss Kansas 2008 supports a platform that reflects her background, her experiences and her growth.
Emily Deaver, as Miss Kansas, speaks to kids, college students and adults about her life before the crown. Her background is a huge part of her message to young people across Kansas.
鈥淭his is who I am,鈥� she said.
Deaver struggled with alcohol abuse in high school, and her troubles continued through college at 黑洞社区.
She looked hard at what her friends were doing, what she was doing and where that was taking her: nowhere.
鈥淚 realized I had a lot more to offer the world of myself,鈥� she said.
There has never been a Miss Kansas to come out with 鈥淎lcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention鈥� as their platform, or with Deaver鈥檚 background.
鈥淪he chose (a platform) where she felt she could really help society,鈥� said Priscilla Stanley, Deaver鈥檚 pageant director for Miss Augusta.
And regardless of whether it was a good idea to tell the state about her past, Deaver said she opened her 鈥渃an of worms.鈥�
鈥淚 made that decision,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 not going to go back and regret it.鈥�
Deaver said it took her a long time to deal with her alcohol abuse, but therapy and a passion for music helped her.
She is a jazz studies major at 黑洞社区 and, after her year as Miss Kansas, she will finish her degree and study film scoring in California.
For her talent as Miss Kansas and in the upcoming Miss America competition Jan. 24, 2009, she will sing and play piano to the old jazz standard, 鈥淲hat are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?鈥�
鈥淪he is a very talented young lady,鈥� Stanley said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just great what she鈥檚 doing.鈥�
Deaver said her talent is less about the notes and technicality, and more about the emotion coming through.
鈥�(Jazz) gave me something to be passionate about,鈥� she said, 鈥済ave me something to love.鈥�
Her mother, Karen Deaver, said the music and the jazz was what her daughter needed. Very few college students choose music as their vocation.
鈥淚 knew Emily could always work,鈥� her mother said, 鈥渂ut she needed to follow her dream. You go for what鈥檚 really in your heart. Do the things that bring you joy and peace and happiness.鈥�
This Miss Kansas was never at the top of her class or on the undefeated team, and she wasn鈥檛 picked to sing all the solos.
鈥淥ne big growing experience that I think so many people forget about is that you don鈥檛 have to win,鈥� Deaver鈥檚 mother said.
鈥淩ight now, Emily is the top, but she hasn鈥檛 had a life of that.鈥�
After Deaver lost her first Miss Augusta pageant at 17, she cried. After losing the Miss Cheney pageant the same year, her mother said she was 鈥渇lat out mad.鈥�
When she competed for Miss Augusta the second time at 19, she won by storm.
鈥淚t must have been meant to be,鈥� her mother said.
Deaver said the judges saw that she was having fun, but knew she could handle the job.
鈥淚f it鈥檚 all about the crown, you鈥檙e missing out on the journey of it,鈥� she said.
From her experiences, Deaver said she feels wise and appreciative of life and good friends, and she tells her story across the state, from elementary schools to detention centers.
Her message to young people and parents is to talk and be open and have healthy communication. Deaver supports a Fox Kansas campaign geared toward parents and tearing down communication barriers.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about sitting down and having dinner with your kids,鈥� she said.
Even if Miss Kansas speaks to children and young adults only once, she said, the message will get to them.
鈥淭here will always be kids who don鈥檛 want to hear it,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ut there are kids looking for help. Even if it鈥檚 just one kid, it鈥檚 totally worth it.鈥�
One of her largest projects is her involvement with the Kansas Advisory Group for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, of which she is a member.
鈥淚 could have been one of those kids,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to forget about the kids who are already in trouble.鈥�
Deaver said she will continue to stay on the board after her year as Miss Kansas. If she is crowned Miss America, she said she will stick with the board and her platform.
Although people believe Miss America is a beauty pageant, Deaver said she sees the Miss America of today as a humanitarian, not a model.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not necessarily about the crown,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about making a difference.鈥�