When Camille Cathey woke up Sunday morning and looked in the mirror, she had to remind herself that she is Miss Arkansas.
Cathey, 23, of Wynne, was crowned the 2024 Miss Arkansas on Saturday night at the Robinson Center in Little Rock. The title brings with it the privilege of representing the state nationally, a spot in the Miss America contest and a scholarship that will cover the cost of attending the University of Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville.
“That just goes to show what this organization does for young women,” Cathey said.
Cathey is already having to adapt to her new role. By early Sunday morning, she had participated in her first board meeting, then read over the contract for Miss Arkansas and glanced at the new schedule of events on her calendar.
While she’s excited to hold the title of Miss Arkansas, Cathey said she has yet to fully realize that she’s accomplished one of her dreams.
Preparation for this moment has taken time and patience. When she was just 6 years old, Cathey was “a diamond” in the Miss America Diamond Mentorship program, the largest scholarship provider for young women in the nation that pairs participants with a mentor. Those in the Diamond Mentorship program are also involved in nightly on-stage performances. In addition, the program introduces young people across the United States to the Miss America organization.
Cathey’s participation in the Diamond Mentorship program began in a hair salon, when someone spotted her picture and asked Cathey’s mom if she would consider encouraging her daughter take part in the program. Enticed by the prospect of walking across a stage in a nice dress and spending time with older girls who would serve as mentors, Cathey accepted her mom’s offer.
“From ages 6 to 11, I was in the Diamond program,” Cathey said. “I got to see young girls with dreams turn into women with visions. I remember them just getting down on my level and talking to me like I was the most important person in the room, even though I was probably an obnoxious 10-year-old.”
The experience changed her, and from that moment on, Cathey said she wanted to be just like the ladies she worked with in the Diamond Mentorship program. They were intelligent, hard-working, beautiful and kind, everything Cathey wanted to be in life.
As soon as she turned 13, Cathey began competing for Miss Arkansas Teen and was awarded the title at age 16. After winning the competition in 2018, the Miss Arkansas Scholarship Program covered the entire cost of Cathey’s undergraduate work at the University of Alabama, where she graduated earlier this year with a degree communication studies.
As Miss Arkansas Teen, however, Cathey’s sights were already set on the Miss Arkansas pageant.
Preparations for that contest, in which Cathey has competed three times, included discipline and hard work. The competition required maintaining physical fitness and a healthy diet, Cathey said. It also included practicing interviews and preparing to engage with people from all walks of life.
Because the Miss America organization has partnered with the American Heart Association, Cathey’s service as the 2024 Miss Arkansas also means she’ll be helping shed light on heart disease in Arkansas. As the most significant health-related issue facing Arkansans, Cathey said the subject is something that is not discussed enough.
But Camille Cathey was not the only pageant winner this weekend. Peyton Bolling, 17, a senior at Bentonville High School, was crowned Miss Arkansas Teen on Friday night.
Like Cathey, Bolling will also be focusing on an important issue as part of her new title. Bolling’s social impact platform is “Simple Acts of Citizenship” which, at its core, is about building better communities, she said. The initiative demonstrates why people should be more involved in civics than politics. Bolling said she will be encouraging people to engage with their community and government and is excited to begin advocating for her platform.
Bolling also said that becoming Miss Arkansas Teen and experiencing Cathey’s win Saturday night temporarily distracted her from the prestige of her own role.
“I definitely was fangirling over Miss Arkansas last night,” Bolling said. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I want a picture – she is so amazing,’ not even realizing that she is going to be my partner in crime for the next year.”
Bolling received a financial benefit from winning the Miss Arkansas Teen competition as well. She is the recipient of three scholarship options: a $20,000 cash scholarship, a full ride to Arkansas State University and a $20,000 scholarship to attend the University of Central Arkansas. But for now, Bolling is undecided as to how she will use that financial reward.
Like Cathey, Bolling was also introduced to the pageant scene through her mother. Her mother was crowned Miss Dogwood, and Peyton Bolling wore her mother’s dress when she won the Miss Dogwood pageant.
Bolling said that throughout the entire competition, her experience as a dancer helped alleviate the pressure associated with competing in the Miss Arkansas Teen contest.
“I feel like I had to prove myself,” Bolling said. “I was the oldest ‘new person’ coming in, so there were a lot of nerves in that way.”
Bolling called Arkansas “the best state” and said she is excited about the opportunity to represent Arkansas on the national stage.
In January, both Cathey and Bolling will appear on behalf of Arkansas as part of the Miss America competition and Miss America Teen competition.