By Jemi Weldon (DCA Student, Student Affairs Marketing & Communications)
On November 11, senior English major Lacey Johnson was crowned the 41st Miss University of Alabama at Birmingham.
UAB’s Student Involvement and Leadership hosted the annual scholarship competition in the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center’s Sirote Theater, and this year, nine contestants showcased their unique skills, personality, intelligence, and grace. The Miss UAB Competition was established in 1983. Since 1993, the event has been an official preliminary competition to the Miss Alabama and Miss America pageants.
Miss UAB 2023, Emma Terry introduced the host of the event: Brianna Burrell, Miss Alabama 2023. The on-stage interview portion started the competition with Burrell asking each contestant about their community service, which corresponded with the preliminary interviews that took place earlier that day with the judges.
Natyam, a classical Indian dance team at UAB, provided a lively performance that kicked off the health and fitness portion of the competition. The contestants spoke about their fitness goals and what health means to them. They demonstrated their physical well-being in activewear donated by Rebel Athletics.
Phaedra Manuel, Miss UAB 2023 first runner-up, performed a violin solo before the talent portion of the competition. Each contestant showcased their talent while giving insight into their skill and personality. Emma Terry then performed an en pointe ballet routine, her winning talent from the 2023 competition.
The final presentation of the night was the evening gown portion, where each contestant walked across the stage with grace and poise in gowns reflecting their own style. After, Brianna performed a vocal solo and shared her experience with community service and winning Miss Alabama 2023.
This year, the competition held more than $4,600 in scholarship awards for the winner, alternates, and special award recipients. After the farewell walk for Emma Terry, she crowned Lacey Johnson as Miss UAB 2024, who also received the Blazer Spirit Award, a $2,200 scholarship, and other prizes that will aid her in the Miss Alabama Competition next summer.