A new year means a new line up of Miss America scholarship program events and competitions. And, our new Miss Fort Worth is already looking forward to everything that this year of events will entail, including the Miss Texas pageant next summer.
This year's winner of the Miss Fort Worth pageant, held on Nov. 28, is TCU student and Alabama native, Miriam Tew.
Originally from Decatur, AL, Tew came to Fort Worth three and a half years ago to become a Horned Frog.
"When I came here to interview with TCU, I fell in love with the school," Tew said. "I did not know a single soul. After starting school, I quickly fell in love with Fort Worth!"
Now, Tew is a senior biology and classical studies major planning to graduate in May 2016. During her time at TCU, Tew participated in extracirricular activities like the Chancellor's Scholar Program, the ambassador program for the TCU J.V. Honors College, Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Health Honors Society and Alpha Chi Omega sorority.
Tew can now use those ambassador skills to represent Fort Worth to the greater Texas community.
"Being an ambassador for Fort Worth is an incredible honor," Tew said. "Meeting and connecting with people is absolutely my favorite part about being Miss Fort Worth 2016. Wearing a crown is pretty fabulous too!"
And if school isn't enough for this honors student, her schedule is starting to fill with appearances, like the Christmas at the Stockyards parade and the CBS 11 Toy Drive in Sundance Square. She even made time to sit down with Santa for a picture while she was there.
When Tew does have time for fun, she said that the Kimbell Art Museum is her favorite place to explore.
"There is always a fabulous new exhibit in addition to the permanent collections," Tew said.
She is also looking forward to the return of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo in January.
"It is so Fort Worth, so Texas and so much fun!" Tew said.
This pageant wasn't Tew's first rodeo. She first competed in the Distinguished Young Women pageant, where she was named first alternate. She then went on to compete in and win the Miss Alabama High School America Pageant. This led her to the Miss High School America Pageant, where she placed in the top 15.
For this pageant, Tew competed in the formal wear, interview and talent competitions. For her talent, Tew played the harp for the crowd gathered at the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts.
Tew's philanthropic platform choice was inspired by her sorority's national philanthropy, domestic violence awareness. She said TCU's Alpha Chi Omega chapter continuously works to support this cause and has a strong parternship with the Women's Center of Tarrant County.
"Domestic violence awareness is my platform because it is a tragedy that must be eliminated," Tew said. "It is a preventable public health problem that affects millions. There is a need for education and awareness as the term covers a broad spectrum of violence: intimate partner violence, child maltreatment, teen dating violence, and elder abuse."
Now, Tew is looking forward to her college graduation and the Miss Texas competition both happening next summer. She said she is most looking forward to connecting with the other contestants and meeting more motivated and successful Texas winners.
"The pageant is a full week production, so the energy and enthusiasm will be contagious." Tew said.
Tew will be representing Fort Worth at the Miss Texas competition from June 25 to July 2 at the Eissmann Center for Performaning Arts in Richardson.
