Cox shines at Miss America Competition

As the saying goes, “Parents are more likely to have a son play in the Super Bowl than they are to have a daughter compete on the Miss America stage.” 

Audrain County and the state of Missouri has good reason to be proud of Callie Cox, Audrain’s homegrown Miss America contestant, who competed in the Miss America contest the week of Dec. 16 at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut. After a week of competition and connection with other contestants from around the country, she was home in time to celebrate the holidays with her family. 

“It was a long nine days,” Cox admitted, “but I would do it all over again!”

Alice Leonatti, executive director of the Miss Missouri Scholarship Organization, couldn’t be more proud of Miss Missouri Callie Cox.

“Although she did not walk away with the crown, Callie did a fabulous job all week at the competition,” Leonatti said. “We are delighted to have her back with us in Missouri where she will continue to do great things for our organization and the state.” 

The same forward focus shined through when talking with Cox, who said that even though she didn’t win Miss America, she came away with a reinvigorated spirit to make as big a difference as she can over the remaining six months of her Miss Missouri role.

Recounting her experience, Cox shared that one of the biggest surprises for her was that she, “walked into the competition excited to meet the women I was competing with, but didn't realize how close we would actually become off-stage.”

It puts her in unique company.

“I am very lucky in the way I can say I personally know someone from all 50 states (plus DC),” Cox said.

There were plenty of other lessons she came away with, as well, ranging from “don’t let the comparison game keep you from staying true to who you are,” to “always carry a pair of flats in your bag - the days were long, and heels would have killed my feet!”

She says she can’t wait to share her pictures of the adventure with her grandkids someday and wished she had taken more.

Heading into the new year Cox will continue with her work on behalf of People First, which builds advocacy, leadership, and self-determination skills in people with developmental and cognitive disabilities. Her upcoming schedule includes a trip to Jefferson City to talk with elected officials about inclusion.

Cox has enjoyed the trip thus far and is excited for the future. She’s also proud of her Audrain County roots.

“I am just so thankful to have a community that always says, ‘yes’ and ‘how can we help?,’” she said. “I was walking across that Miss America stage for every Missourian that has walked with me to that moment.”