HOT SPRINGS — Kristen Glover, Miss Ouachita Baptist University, tapped her way to the Miss Arkansas crown Saturday night.
The 21-year-old Stuttgart native will tour the state for the next year promoting her platform issue of “Second Chances: Empowering Youth to Rise Above.” She will compete in the Miss America competition in January in Las Vegas and will receive a $20,000 scholarship for winning the pageant and more than $50,000 in gifts.
First runner-up was Lauren English, Miss Arkansas Valley.
Glover was crowned at 10:30 p.m. by Alyse Eady, the 2010 Miss Arkansas and first runner-up in the Miss America pageant. Glover was third runner-up to Eady in 2010.
For the talent portion of the competition, Glover tap danced to the song “I Got Rhythm.”
Glover is a student at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Pharmacy and is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University. Her parents are Keith and Mary Glover.
Glover was among 45 contestants competing for the title of Miss Arkansas at Hot Springs Summit Arena, where the competition has been held since the 1950s. Since Wednesday, each contestant competed for $75,000 in scholarships in evening gown, swimsuit and talent categories.
Glover was a crowd favorite and even won an award for it. She won the overall lifestyle and fitness swimsuit award, overall interview award and was a preliminary winner on Wednesday night in lifestyle and fitness. She won the best evening gown award on Thursday.
The top 10 contestants were announced shortly after the show began at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Along with Glover and English, they were: Lindsey Ahrens, Miss Ozark Highland; Amy Crain, Miss Greater Hot Springs; BethanyWhitfield, Miss Metro; Tracy Neal, Miss Northwest Arkansas; Simone Mullinax, Miss White River; Somer Allen, Miss Northeast Arkansas; Candace Carr, Miss Frisco Springs; and Sloane Roberts, Miss Ouachita River.
The fourth runner-up was Roberts, Allen was third runner-up and Mullinax was second runner-up.
Front Section, Pages 2 on 07/17/2011