Blakely McEvoy, a U of A sophomore from Fort Smith, was crowned USA National Miss Arkansas at the pageant in Russellville the first week of January and earned a spot in this summer's USA National Miss.

McEvoy is an apparel merchandising and product development major in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Science's School of Human Environmental Sciences.

McEvoy will compete in the USA National Miss Scholarship Pageant at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, June 28 to July 4. The pageant includes evening gown, interview and runway fashion show competitions.

"Being named USA National Miss Arkansas is a huge honor, and I can't wait to represent our state at nationals this summer in Orlando," McEvoy said. "I'm so excited to get to share the USA National Miss platform of Crown CARES, which is Creating a Respectful Environment in Schools, through the state of Arkansas."

McEvoy, who graduated from Greenwood High School, has been competing in pageants for four years, but this was her first USA National Miss event.

"Pageants have really helped me with confidence, interview skills and public speaking," McEvoy said. "Along with this, I have made so many lifelong friendships and earned scholarship money."

McEvoy is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and serves as recruitment chair assistant. She volunteers with multiple organizations, including Breast Cancer Awareness and Education, Tim Tebow's Night to Shine, Crown Cares and Make-a-Wish.

She has a fashion blog, Crowns & Chanel, and has modeled for various boutiques in Northwest Arkansas, including Red Leopard, Violets formal wear, Riffraff and Simply Couture's annual New York in the Fort fashion show. She has worked with former supermodel Lu Sierra, and last spring and fall was chosen to walk in NWA Fashion Week. Her blog focuses on fashion, makeup, pageants and fitness.

"I would love to move to New York and work for a major fashion powerhouse and eventually open up my own boutique," McEvoy said.

USA National Miss provides young women ages 4 to 25 the opportunity to combine pageantry with other optional elements to custom design their pageant experience - whether their focus is on fashion and modeling, talent, education, community service or mentorship. Awarding six prestigious national titles, USA National Miss has awarded nearly $1 million in cash, prizes and full-ride college scholarships since 2010. Delegates can also earn titles, crowns, prizes and scholarship money in optional competitions in areas including academics, community service and talent.

"USA National Miss combines all the beauty and excitement of pageantry with the glamour and energy of a runway fashion show while recognizing the personal achievement, community involvement and academic excellence of young women all across the USA," said Jackie Watson, founder of USA National Miss. "Our program is designed to award young women for their accomplishments, and to mentor them to reach their goals and unleash their true potential while encouraging them to be articulate young women with a strong sense of self-worth."

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2.7 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.