Miss America is right around the corner, and as former Arkansas contestant Savvy Shields prepares to crown a new Miss America, the ladies down in Arkansas are getting ready to see who will represent their state! Continuing our series, "The Road to Miss Arkansas," is Hannah Burrow, Miss Central Arkansas!

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Please share with our readers your platform along with a brief description of what it is.
My platform is “See the S.I.G.N.S.: Deaf Awareness”. My platform is hoping to educate families, students, and educators on what to look for and how to help a child with a hearing disability in order for them to do well in life and school.

How long have you competed in pageants? How do you think you’ve personally grown with all your prior pageant experience?
I have been competing in the Miss Arkansas system in some form for four years now. I have seen my confidence and speaking abilities grow tremendously over the last four years.

In regards to your platform, why did you choose to go with this particular one?
I was diagnosed with a hearing disability in second grade, I am completely deaf in my left ear, so this platform was very personal for me. I wanted to base it around my experience and how we can help make the lives of other hearing impaired Arkansans better.

How has working alongside your platform made you into a stronger person?
Being deaf is not a hearing disability that you see. I personally do have a problem with my speech and I didn’t suffer from any learning delays because of it, but because of this people tend to not believe me when I tell them. I wanted to help reshape the way we view the hearing impaired. It also made me realize just how blessed I am, because growing up I thought I had this horrible experience but I know now just how much worse it could be. I have also learned to view it as something that sets me apart and makes me unique instead of being something I hate. I am a girl who happens to be deaf, not just “that deaf girl.”

What have you learned from your current Miss Arkansas Savannah Skidmore as well as our Miss America Savvy Shields, which you hope to carry with you if you were to win the title of  Miss Arkansas?
As I have watched both Savvy and Savannah serve I have learned what it means to truly be passionate about serving Arkansas and America. Both women have represented the state and America so well and served and loved each person they come in contact with, and if I were to be crowned that is the legacy I want to continue.

As a title-holder, what is one of the single-most important messages, which you think you convey to your followers?
You are so much more than what people think you are.

If you were to win the title of Miss Arkansas, what is the one thing which you would strive the hardest to accomplish?
I want to change the way we conduct hearing screening tests in schools to help with the earlier detection of a hearing disability. The earlier the problem is detected the easier it is to help combat any side effects that could come with a diagnosis.

Imagine you’re competing for Miss America, and your roommate has never visited Arkansas; how would you describe your state to your roommate?
It is called the “Natural State” for a reason. I have never been to a part of this state and not looked around me and thought “wow, this beautiful and I get to live here.” There are mountains and rivers everywhere you look. Also there are very few things an Arkansan is more passionate about than the Razorbacks. Expect to hear a few hog calls if you ever visit!

Because of media, many people tend to look at pageant with a very scrutinizing opinion; For you. personally, what have been some of the biggest benefits of being a part of the Miss America Organization. And how would you share the positive nature of pageants with others who may not be familiar?
One huge positive aspect for me is the scholarships I have received. As a first generation college student my education was very important to me, as well as the rest of my family, and to have an organization provide such a way for me to continue furthering my education while bettering me as a person is amazing. The second best thing I have received is friendships. Whether it is from directors, sponsors, or my fellow contestants I have found so many lasting friendships and helping hands through competing.

Where can fans follow you on social media? Please provide your twitter, instagram and facebook names / links.
Twitter: @hannahrb1

Facebook: Hannah Renea Burrow

Instagram: @hananhrb1

What advice do you have for those who want to take part in pageants?
If you even the slightest interest in competing I say go for it! My only regret in this system is that I was scared and waited so long! I would tell any girl to at least give it a try, because win or lose I can promise it will be a rewarding experience and you’re going to make new friends and memories, and you might find a few things out  about yourself along the way.

What words of thanks do you have for those who have helped to bring you to where you are today  – a member of the Miss Arkansas Class of 2017?
I don’t even know where to begin when it comes to thanking people. There are so many over the last few years who have played a part in my journey getting here. It wasn’t easy for me at times and I wanted to give up, but no matter where I turned there was someone there to tell me to keep going. So thank you from the bottom of my heart to every friend I made whether a sponsor, a contestant, a director, the families of other contestants, or just a person I got to speak to for constantly encouraging me to relentlessly chase my dreams and believing in me.