When you ask someone what they hope their #MissAmericaLegacy will be, it's amazing to read all of the unique responses which are coming thru to us. Former titleholders, who are now volunteer, previously judged pageants, and even held the role Executive Directors are sharing with us what their Miss America legacy is. One such person is Corrine Willis. Continue reading to learn about this former titleholder and what she hopes her legacy will be within the Miss America Organization.

Now 31, Willis has been participating in the Miss America system, “for fourteen years as a contestant, local titleholder, judge, auditor, board member, and executive director.” She previously competed in the Miss New York system and was Miss Thousand Islands 2008.



At the time of her reign, she described her platform as, “Music as a Mentor: Sharing the Gift. It was designed to inspire youth to recognize and use their strengths and talents to volunteer in their communities.” And for Willis, joining the Miss America Organization was quite simple. She stated, “I was convinced by the Clayton Opera House manager as I was walking into a community band rehearsal where I played oboe. I was in high school and really had no interest in pageants, but it sounded different and I was intrigued by the challenge. It obviously stuck with me, despite my initial hesitations.”



Willis also has a beautiful little daughter, who I recently had the chance to meet when I was in upstate New York. So of course he would want to have a legacy for her daughter to look up to, but she said her legacy would also include “perseverance and patience;” continuing, “It took me nearly four years to win my first, and only, title. I so desperately wanted to win Miss Thousand Islands again and improve my performance at Miss NY, but after I gave up my title, I finished first runner up each attempt and never got the chance. While I was devastated for some time, the end result ended up revealing itself later to be exactly what I, and the Miss TI organization needed. It forced me to look at the big picture, be humble, and trust that there is a bigger plan for me that may not be MY plan, but is ultimately for the greater good.”

Keeping pageants in the family: posing with my daughter, Cadence, and niece, Elliott (Miss TI star princess) with Miss NY Gabrielle Walter.