'There She Is': Savvy Shields brings Miss America crown home

The perpetually smiling blonde woman has a crown, two suitcases, a constant traveling companion and a roller coaster schedule that will bring her home to Arkansas this weekend.

She is Savvy Shields, and she is Miss America, the first from Arkansas since Elizabeth Ward in 1982.

As Miss America "24/8," Shields has a full and fluid schedule. On a whirlwind visit to Wal-Mart in September, she was able to see her parents, Todd and Karen Shields of Fayetteville, for "a hot second." Not knowing whether she'll be home for Christmas, she convinced them to put up their tree three months early, she confesses during a phone call on Monday.

She doesn't know much about this weekend's homecoming event either. It's supposed to be a surprise, she admits, and she's fine with that. What she wants people to know, she says, her voice full of contagious joy, is that she's still the same person -- and then she pauses.

"I know I'm going to mature and grow. That's inevitable. I've grown so much already," says the University of Arkansas senior, who won the title Sept. 11 in Atlantic City. "But I hope I'll stay the same person -- real and transparent and authentic and relatable. I want to be the most approachable Miss America ever and let you see everything about my life.

"I've never felt so loved in my entire life -- and I am so excited to come back to Arkansas. I couldn't have done this without that immense love and support."

When she was crowned Miss Arkansas on July 9, Shields did something that no one in the state pageant system had ever done. She had won the title of Miss Arkansas' Outstanding Teen -- also a part of the Miss America system -- on her first try in 2009. As Miss Heart of the Ozarks, she won the title of Miss Arkansas on her first try, too, after waiting nearly a decade to compete.

In September, she won it all -- including $50,000 in scholarships, a six-figure salary and a chance to spend a year traveling the U.S. and abroad, dancing -- "If I could sing I would, but sadly that is not my in skill set" -- laughing -- which she does a lot -- and speaking about her personal platform, "Eat Better, Live Better." She says it "aims to educate people on how the foods we eat really make an impact on our lives as a whole."

"Hopefully I'll be able to enable and promote healthier lifestyles in America," she says. "Whether I am leading by example or actually teaching people tangible ways that they can incorporate healthier living into their lifestyles, I'm excited to have this platform that the title brings, and I can't wait to see where it takes me."

So far, it's taken her to a different state about every 72 hours and "a different adventure every day," speaking, presenting awards, being interviewed and -- her favorite thing -- visiting the Children's Miracle Network hospitals, for whom she is a spokesman.

"You walk into a room holding the crown, place it on a little girl's head and tell her it has magical powers," she says. "And you try to bring a little light and a little love. Those are the days when you're reminded why you wanted to do this in the first place. And you get back in the car and start crying. Every time.

"But something happens when you walk into a room and you represent hope and life beyond tragedy and life beyond hospitals. So you muster as much courage as you can. And you know these kids have more courage than you'll ever have in your life. I feel so honored."

NAN What's Up on 10/21/2016