Road to Miss Lousiana USA 2024

Let me reintroduce myself as Miss East Baton Rouge, USA soon to compete at Miss Lousiana, USA in January!

I took a step back after I graduated from college and being a campus queen (for my new followers — 88th Miss Southern University and A&M 2018-19) I had to reevaluate everything I prevailed through as a leader, both the good and the very bad. I did so with much humility and grace, something only life experience can prepare you for. Needless to say, I had some healing to do.

But after the healing and remembering who Darby is —- I remembered that I learned and gained so much from that journey. I remembered that I put everything I had into becoming what I knew I could be and didn’t think about any other options. I impacted and empowered so many different kinds of people from all across my communities and the country —and realized how much I grew as a woman, as a leader, as a Queen.

Now I’m ready to take on a new journey! I am beyond grateful for all of the support I’ve received thus far. For years, a few of you urged me to compete and I finally decided it was time . I just had to get my heart posture right. Everyday, I fall in love with the path to get to where I want to be, focusing less on the destination. It’s in the path to the destination that’s building me for what I do after I get to “there”. Crowns are a lifetime not just a Moment.

This is much bigger than me.

I stand behind my platform “Building Legacy Through Literacy” to continue bring awareness and build community action around the Literacy Rate in Louisiana. We rank 47th in the nation for Literacy with a rate of 72.9% . More than half of Americans between the ages of 16 and 74 cannot read above the sixth-grade level. ¼ of the population in five of every six parishes in Louisiana suffers from below-basic literacy. That effects the quality of education system, use of resources, our future work force and our quality of life.

Personal development is an ongoing process, and literacy skills empower individuals to continue learning and growing throughout their lives.

If I can give my voice to anything, it’s most definitely to giving our future the opportunity to become their best selves and that starts with empowering them with the skills to express themselves and grow.

Now let’s rock this thing

If you’d like to donate to my journey, Everything helps me get one step closer to the crown! Gowns, accessories, coaches, travel!

But more importantly, I thank each and every one of you for your support in advance.

Are you ready to go on this ride with me ?!

Love and Light,

Darby

#rpmforthewin #DearDarby #DearDarbyDiaries #MissLouisianaUSA

#misslausa