By Trish Svoboda

Miss Kansas 2024, Alexis Smith, stands tall on her platform, “Respect Reclaimed,” which focuses on fostering relationships free from domestic violence. Her response to her final interview question went viral after Miss Kansas posted a video on Facebook, where Smith confronted her abuser on stage.

Smith explained that her journey shifted when someone she was healing from attempted to disrupt her peace. Instead of succumbing, she “took back my power – not just for myself, but for my dreams and everyone watching and listening.” She aims to turn her “pain into purpose” to help end unhealthy relationships.

“My voice and advocacy will empower everyone to reclaim their own power in their own unique way,” Smith said. “I might be small in stature, but I stand tall in strength, purpose, and power with hopes of inspiring others to do the same.”

In an interview with 12 News, Smith shared that her platform is rooted in her personal experience with domestic violence within her family. She plans to use her talent for ventriloquism and her title as Miss Kansas to raise funds for domestic violence shelters.