This story is told through the eyes of Payton Edberg (shown performing above), a contestant in the Miss Alabama pageant.

A performance involving the contestants during the Miss Alabama pageant.

From the audience, the Miss Alabama pageant might appear to be a blur of sparkly dresses and 50 smiling women, but the experience resonates much deeper for the contestants.

The scholarship program allows driven women to showcase their numerous talents while earning thousands of dollars in scholarship money. Through my participation in Miss Alabama, I will be able to graduate from college debt-free, which is unusual given the current cost of a college education.

Not only does the Miss Alabama program assist its participants by funding scholarships, but the program also prepares women for life beyond college. The personal interview with the judges has given me the confidence to walk into a job interview with any company and know that I am prepared. The on-stage question, which often asks contestants to speak out about controversial issues, has given me the chance to form and express my opinion on topics I had never considered before. The lifestyle and fitness competition has led me to set fitness goals and lead an even healthier lifestyle that will carry over into my life after the competition.

Edberg (r) hugs a young participant during the pageant.

As a preliminary to the Miss America pageant, each Miss Alabama contestant is scored in five categories: private interview with the judges, talent, on-stage question, lifestyle and fitness, and evening gown. The criteria for each category ensure Miss Alabama will be a talented, knowledgeable, healthy and poised representative of the state.

Contrary to a common misconception, while a professional and polished appearance is expected, as with any job, at no point in the competition are Miss Alabama contestants judged on their physical beauty. The Miss Alabama pageant rewards academic achievement, community service and talent, none of which are associated with physical attractiveness. These awards demonstrate the Miss Alabama pageant’s focus on participants’ character rather than appearance.

At the culmination of all the phases of competition, only one of the 50 contestants has the Miss Alabama crown placed on her head. This year the honor was given to Meg McGuffin, Miss Phenix City. She will go on to represent Alabama at the Miss America pageant in September.

Although all contestants compete with the hopes of becoming Miss Alabama, as one of the 49 who did not receive that honor I can say that there is much more to be gained through the experience than a sparkly headpiece.

Edberg waves to onlookers.

I had the chance to meet intelligent, talented and eloquent women from across Alabama who passionately speak out for causes and serve their communities.

As one outlet of service, each contestant chooses a personal community service platform to serve during her year as a local titleholder. My platform, “Just Breathe,” is an initiative I developed to promote lung health education and awareness across Alabama. Becoming an advocate for this cause has allowed me to have one-on-one interactions with the people I am helping, and those connections are changing my life in a way I never imagined before I began my involvement with the program.

Miss Alabama is more than a pageant. The four nights of competition each June are simply an exhibition of what 50 ambitious women are doing year-round throughout our state.

I am honored and humbled to be in a class with such inspiring women. It is my wish that people will see past the “pageant girl” stigma that we local titleholders continually combat and see the hearts for service and the talents that Miss Alabama contestants are using to make a difference in Alabama .