New Miss Augusta University crowned Friday

Makayla Littles contributed to this story

On Friday, reigning Miss Augusta University Amanda Mines will pass her crown to another Augusta student at the third annual Miss Augusta University Scholarship Pageant.

Doors open at the Maxwell Theatre at 6:30 p.m. The 7 p.m. event is free for students, faculty and staff with a valid JagID. Tickets are $5.

Over the last year, Mines has been a strong advocate for pageant involvement.

“My whole thing is, I want there to be a lot of participation in the Miss Augusta University pageant,” she said. “I want people to realize it’s not about the pageant itself, it’s about your involvement in school, your involvement on campus, the scholarship and the knowledge you’re going to walk away with.”

Though Mines is a pageant veteran with 16 years of experience, she says the Miss Augusta University pageant is a great opportunity for anyone, regardless of past experience. Challenging yourself to do what you find uncomfortable is essential for anyone who wants to grow as a person, she says.

A business management major, Mines credits pageants with helping build her confidence.

“If somebody comes to me, I’ll talk to you all day long, but I’m not the person to approach you,” she said. “So I had to learn to step outside my comfort zone and go talk to people, even when I didn’t want to.”

That networking has paid off, both personally and as far as her promoting her platform, which involves the inclusion of people with special needs. It especially helped her make connections with the expanded community that came about as a result of competing in Miss Georgia, an opportunity earned by the Miss Augusta University winner because of the pageant’s relationship with the Miss America organization.

“I guarantee I wouldn’t know half of the people I know if I hadn’t won Miss Augusta University,” she said.

And then there’s the scholarship. According to Mines, Miss America is the leading provider of scholarships to women in America.

“It helped ease the cost of school,” she said. “My scholarship for winning Miss Augusta University paid for all of my summer classes.”

For more information about the pageant, email the Jaguar Production CREW or call 706-737-1610.