“I Feel Anxious”: Sara Milliken Faces Torment After Winning Miss National American Alabama 2024
Sara Milliken’s triumph as Miss National American Alabama 2024 has been overshadowed by controversy, sparking extensive debates concerning cyberbullying and the validity of her title.
The victory came in May following Sara’s participation in the National American Miss (NAM) pageant. However, critics raised doubts about her claim to the title after media reports mistakenly referred to her as “Miss Alabama.”
Former Miss Alabama Amie Beth Shaver expressed unfamiliarity with the National American Miss competition, insisting that only the Miss Alabama title holds significance, with winners advancing to compete in Miss America.
In contrast, another renowned pageant, Miss USA, sends its winners to the Miss Universe competition.
“Miss America, now celebrating its 101st year, and Miss USA, which feeds into Miss Universe,” Amie explained. “But this National American Miss, no one knows about it. I’m not even sure what it is.”
She emphasized that those involved in pageantry typically choose between Miss America or Miss USA and noted that the Miss Alabama title is affiliated with Miss America. Therefore, using the same title for the lesser-known National American Miss contest, where Sara competed, would be inaccurate.
Diane Westhoven, 21, clinched the Miss Alabama USA 2024 title this year and is poised to participate in the upcoming Miss USA competition in August.
Meanwhile, the winner of Miss America Alabama 2024, eligible for the Miss Universe contest, is yet to be determined. Beyond the title confusion, Sara faced a barrage of body-shaming comments following her win. She described some comments as “disgusting.”
“It’s crucial to address the untold part of this story. When they first released the behind-the-scenes photo from that day, it garnered over 2,000 comments and was viewed over a million times,” she noted in a June 6 post.
“There was a lot of positivity, but also a lot of negativity. Some of the things people said were truly repugnant. I choose not to dwell on that. Nevertheless, there’s an important discourse that needs to happen, and as a titleholder, I feel it’s extremely irresponsible not to address the ‘second part’ of this story.”
It’s important to recognize that different pageants emphasize different aspects. For instance, Miss USA includes a swimsuit competition, whereas Miss America focuses on interviews, talent displays, evening gowns, and physical fitness, omitting the swimsuit segment.
NAM, on the other hand, prioritizes contestants’ confidence and interpersonal skills over physical appearance, as per Marca.
Following the backlash Sara faced, NAM organizers clarified that she won due to her “articulate communication, stage presence, and extensive community involvement.”
“Pageants vary significantly. NAM encourages young women to embrace life without limits and pursue their dreams boldly,” stated NAM.
An “overwhelmed” and “apprehensive” Sara also issued a statement amidst the controversy to acknowledge the scale of the situation.
“I genuinely mean it when I say I haven’t let anyone dampen my spirits. Nonetheless, I’m overwhelmed. The thought of how big this story has become makes me anxious,” she expressed.
“There’s truly nothing that can prepare you for what I’ve encountered over the past few days. That’s why it’s crucial for me to prioritize my mental well-being in the coming days. I know this storm will pass. We’ll soon return to ‘normal’!”
