Pleasant Home School alumna Linsey Smithart was crowned Miss Huntingdon 2019 over the weekend.

Smithart said that she participated in the pageant to meet new people.

“There were 17 girls that participated in the pageant,” Smithart said. “And I don’t know if I would have gotten to meet them just walking around campus if I didn’t participate in this pageant.”

She said that preparation for all of the pageant categories took some time.

“We started with an interview that morning so I had to prepare for that,” Smithart said. “Then we had to choose a philanthropy, which mine was the Alabama Lyme Disease, because my dad has chronic Lyme disease, so I had to prepare to know about all of the stuff in the organization. As Miss Huntingdon, I’m going to have to do an event for the Alabama Lyme Disease Association, so I have to plan that. We also had talent, so I sang House of the Rising Sun and had to prepare for that. Then we also had an onstage question that I had to prepare for.”

Smithart said that the week leading up to the pageant was the best part of the entire experience.

“Even though the practices were really long, that is where we got to bond,” Smithart said. “We got to talk, get to know each other and laugh at each other because none of us could dance and we had a ridiculous opening number.”

When Smithart heard her name called out as the winner, she said that she was completely shocked.

“I had no idea that it was going to be me,” Smithart said. “I had my aunt and uncle, my grandparents, parents, sister and nephew there to support me and I could actually see them. My nephew was trying to wave at me the whole time, but when they said my name they all jumped up and started cheering.”

With the crown, Smithart won a $1,000 scholarship as well.

“It was very nice to get the scholarship,” Smithart said. “Huntingdon is a private college, which means it is a little more expensive, so every little bit helps. That is another reason why I wanted to do this pageant.”

Smithart is double majoring in chemistry and psychology with the hopes of becoming a pediatric dentist after she graduates.

She is very active at the college, participating in Exchange Club as president-elect, Campus Ministries, Honors Program, Chi Omega sorority as Secretary and Director of Programming, SGA Senator, Pre-Health Club, Psychology Club, Student Alumni Association, and Student Recruiter.

Smithart is the daughter of Daryl and Tina Smithart.