The next contestant to be featured as part of our series, “The Road to Miss Connecticut 2018,” is the current Miss Southbury, Micayla Barrows. This 17-year-old is ready to step onto the Miss Connecticut stage and share with the judges why she should be the next Miss Connecticut! Continue reading to learn more about Micayla and her journey to the crown.

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What does being Miss Connecticut 2018 mean to you?
Miss Connecticut 2018 isn’t just the sparkly crown you wear or the white sash draped over your shoulder; it’s the ultimate indication of a woman’s gratitude, self-respect, and industry. Becoming the 90th puzzle piece to almost a century of true sisterhood and honor is the key to a purposeful, passionate, and propitious life. For me, it’s a step closer towards that life, as well as towards the goals I have always been determined to reach. It’s the job of a superhero and role model, of a fairy princess, and of the utmost motivation.


Tell our readers a bit about how you prepared for competing in the Miss Connecticut system? What challenges did you face in preparing for Miss Connecticut?
As a 17-year-old running for the title of Miss Connecticut, there is a vast amount of preparation that needs to be done. It’s hard being one of the youngest competitors in my class and having to present myself in a more mature manner. Even while I’m finishing up these final months of my senior year in high school, I’ve learned that it’s okay to juggle. When I’m not dancing five days a week, I go for a run around my neighborhood, or I go for a hike in the woods behind my house. On Tuesday and Thursday nights, I help my dad run practices for premier soccer teams at Hotchkiss Park in Prospect, as well as coach them in games on the weekend. These various physical activities have helped me to be in the shape that I am for not only the fitness portion of the competition but for my talent as well.

Since I am still a few months away from voting, watching the 10 o’clock news with my parents has become a must. Each day I gain more and more knowledge on current events and politics from these news stations. I have also been saving and practicing questions from civics and history classes, which helps when it comes to clearly understanding how our government functions.

Furthermore, I have participated in almost every appearance that I could which has helped me gain the confidence to get myself out there and to experience the many opportunities that this world has. There is no “end” when it comes to the preparation for the job of Miss CT or for the job of any titleholder, there is always more to be done and more to be achieved.


What has been three of your most memorable experiences, since being crowned Miss Southbury?
Since being crowned Miss Southbury, I have had some incredible experiences and the most amazing time. However, my top three favorites/most memorable would have to be reading to the children at Prospect Elementary School with baby goats, judging the Mr. Pomperaug pageant, and dancing at Qthon to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network.

During National Reading Week, I took three baby goats to Prospect Elementary School to sit with the children while I read books. They loved having the goats curl up in their laps and listen to the story with them. The goats provided a comfortable and warm feeling in the room which had calmed the children down and made reading more fun for them. My favorite part was getting to see the kids smile when they saw baby goats enter their classroom, it’s not an everyday kind of thing so they were extra excited to see the animals.

My second favorite experience was getting to be the fifth judge for the Mr. Pomperaug pageant, which was located in Southbury CT. I loved seeing the senior class get up on the stage and show their hidden talent as well as answer some onstage questions. The best part was seeing the 11 contestants strut onstage for the opening number while they wore short shorts and flipped over one another.

Finally, I had such an amazing time dancing with my sister queens at Qthon. We jumped right in the middle of a crowd of tutu’s and sparkly headbands while we danced for hours in order to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network. My favorite thing in this world is dancing so I truly enjoyed doing it for such an amazing cause.


How have you striven to not only promote your personal platform, but also help raise money for the MAO’s national platform, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals?
My personal platform is formed around a non-profit organization called Kelly’s Kids Inc. We use farm animals, anywhere from goats and pigs to donkeys and chickens, as a therapeutic tool for children and individuals with special needs or other behavioral disabilities. By taking some of the baby animals to nearby elementary and high schools, I promoted my platform by presenting to the kids how these animals help people. I have also held bake sales and pale shakes to get the word out about Kelly’s Kids while raising money for the organization. With Children’s Miracle Network, I have posted all over social media what it does and to whom it helps. With all of the donations that I have received from these social media posts, I have raised almost $1,000. Besides social media, I have also participated in dance marathons to help raise money, and have planned stuffed animal donations in the schools of District 15 and 16 to give to the children in Hartford’s Children Hospital.

With the recent news which has been brought up in regards to the former Miss America Org. board, what do you hope the future of the MAO holds with their new Chairwoman, Gretchen Carlson?
I hope that with our new Chairwoman, Gretchen Carlson, the Miss America Organization will continue to grow and expand as it amazes and inspires young woman all around. I am hoping that with Carlson being our 1989 Miss America, she will understand what is further needed from within the walls of a contestant. She’s had “behind closed door” experiences and knows precisely how the organization is run. I believe that she is going to make such an amazing asset to the Miss America Organization as a whole.


What advice do you have for young women who are looking to step into the Miss America Organization?
The young women who are interested in the Miss America Organization should allow their personal strengths to shine and use their position to inspire others. The Miss America Organization is one in which women are given an opportunity to show the world how strong and important they are. My advice would be to do what makes you happy and teach other girls to do the same. They should hold themselves to the high standards that all Miss America members believe in, and embody that within their school and community at large.

How do you define yourself as a role-model for others?
A role model is defined by what you make of “it”. “It” being the outstanding confidence present upon one’s shoulders, the unique quality they aren’t afraid to share, the responsibility and well-roundedness they hold themselves accountable towards, and even the willingness to admit the truth. For me, I have always tried to carry and withhold each of these few traits, but sometimes I face challenges. By overcoming those obstacles, keeping my head held high, and remaining determined, I have been the role model that I have always wanted to be. I can show someone that anything is possible if you set your mind to it, and no matter the obstacles you will face in life, it’s always worth it in the end.


What do you think is the biggest challenge which is facing the young generation of America today? And how can we work together to over-come it?
February 14, 2018, stands as the day that the major social issue of gun violence will greatly and forever impact my generation. Students now fear the thought of sitting and learning in classrooms, and their parents run endless “what if’s” while putting their child on the bus. Ever since 1999, the time period at which I was born into, my generation has seen our fellow classmates and society struggle upon completing their education. On that very day in February, another school shooting was added to the list of reasons why our society needs stricter gun laws. It will now remain as the main topic for my generation as well as the rest of America. It’s hard to prevent any of these actions, however, we have the ability to better equip our schools with ways to protect students and faculty in the risk that such an incident may occur.

Regardless of whomever wins the title of Miss Connecticut 2018, what is one goal you have for the new title-holder, which you hope she is able to accomplish during her reign?
I hope that whoever wins the title of Miss Connecticut 2018, will put everything she has into this job, and that she will remain devoted to her role. Miss Connecticut isn’t just a title you hold, but it’s a job that you wake up every morning and appear to, it turns into your life for the next 360 days. With that, I hope Miss CT 2018 will leave as big of shoes to fill as Eliza Kanner did this year. She is and will forever be an inspiration for any titleholder or contestant in the Miss Connecticut Organization.


Bravura is an artistic word for exceptional. What makes you a “bravura” candidate for Miss Connecticut?
The word exceptional has many synonyms; surprising, unexpected, special, and unique. With that, it is similar to who I am as an individual, I am made up of various meanings, phrases, and characteristics that when put together, one may consider… exceptional. In my opinion, I have worked with an exceptional effort towards this organization, towards completing each task that I’ve been given or have set, towards having the job of Miss Southbury 2018, and towards standing as myself without changing for others. Bravura magazine inspires people to show their confidence and to be themselves, which are the two objectives that I work for as I compete for the job of Miss Connecticut.

What words of advice do you have for the new class of contestants who are getting ready to compete for your title?
First off, Welcome!! You are about to have the most fun-filled, incredible, and thrilling year of your life. However, there is one thing I want to make sure you remember, no matter your age or size or height, you have the same chance to win Miss Connecticut as the rest of the girls around you. Do not let someone’s age determine your capability for this job, do not let someone’s years of experience within this organization destroy your hope, and most importantly do not let the outside of someone else take away from your truth inside and your confidence. Throughout my year of service, I wanted to take the title of Miss Southbury and make it more than it has ever been. I wanted to show the town of Southbury who was chosen to wear their name on a sash, and I wanted to make more appearances within the community. It is now your turn to show why you deserve this town on your sash and why you should be the one who Southbury citizens rely on. So whether you’re from the town of Southbury itself, or you’re from one of the surrounding communities, the job of Miss Southbury will bring you closer to this town than you’ve ever been and it will make you proud to be their representative within the Miss America Organization.

What words of thanks do you have for those who have supported you on this journey?
There have been so many people who have either helped me find that perfect dress, or have helped me with my interviewing skills, and onstage answers. I would like to give my greatest thanks to each of those individuals, for their time, patience, and advice. I would also like to thank our amazingly generous sponsors for everything they’ve given to the organization. Most of all, I would like to thank my best friend, my twin, and my number one fan, my mom. She has been with me every step of the way within these pageant walls as well as outside. For 15 years she has cheered me on while I danced on stage, she has always sat in the front row during school ceremonies, and she has taught me the true meaning of “good-natured”. So thank you all, I truly would not have been able to stand in this position today if I didn’t have these wonderful people supporting me and standing by my side.


Where can people follow you on social media?
Facebook: Miss Southbury 2018 – Micayla Barrows.
Instagram: @misssouthbury2018 or @micaylabarrows.

What final words do you have for the readers of Bravura Magazine and those following you on social media?
If you’re reading this, I want you to know that you believed in Santa for 10 years, so you can believe in yourself for 10 seconds. Whether it be in an interview room, performing on a stage, or just living through your day, you can do it. Thank you to everyone that has believed in me and has stood by my side since the beginning of my journey, but again, most of all, thank you, mom.