In 2015, a graceful Miss Georgia took to the Miss America stage with the dream and determination to become Miss America. She amazed the judges with her beautiful vocal talent, stunned in her evening gown, and proved that a healthy lifestyle is an important part of being Miss America. And by the end of the night, Betty Cantrell was our new Miss America 2016. The last time a Miss Georgia was crowned Miss America was Neva Jane Langley, who was Miss America 1953. So this was indeed an epic moment for her home-state! After she crowned Savvy Shields as the new Miss America, Cantrell announced her engagement with her then long-time boyfriend, Spencer Maxwell. This past April were married in Macon, Georgia, and became Mrs. Maxwell! But Maxwell's Miss America legacy didn't end there! Continue reading to know what Betty Maxwell's 'Miss America Legacy' is!

Maxwell took part in the Miss America Organization for about two-and-half years. She explained to us, “I competed in the state of Georgia,” continuing, “in 2014 I won my first local title, Miss Presidential Pathways, at age 19. I was Second runner up at Miss Georgia and won overall talent.” She went onto then share with us that, “in 2015 I won my second local title, Miss Warner Robins, at age 20. in June I was crowned Miss Georgia 2015 and also won overall talent, overall evening gown and overall onstage question. On September 13th, 2015 I was crowned Miss America 2016.”


At the time of Maxwell’s reign she said that, “my platform was called Healthy Children. Strong America,” where she explained that she was, “helping children to develop healthy bodies and healthy minds through eating healthy and exercising!” Maxwell went into continue that she, “worked with the children in local boys and girls clubs and schools in Georgia and then later went on to partner with the American Farm Bureau Foundation.” I couldn’t believe it when Betty shared about her stepping stone into pageant. She told me that she, “initially had no interest in competing in pageants. Competing in my first local was my first time doing a pageant…EVER!” She went onto say, “I decided to compete because of the opportunity to potentially showcase my talent on the state and national level, and for the scholarship opportunities. I saw this as a huge potential stepping stone toward my career goal of being a singer.”



And wow…what an amazing singer she is indeed! Her debut EP was titled Nicotine, and my favorite track on it was “That Kind of Love.” Definitely check it out if you already haven’t! Maxwell is one Miss America titleholder I came to know more intimately when I worked with her on our cover photoshoot, and you could see the legacy that she was leaving, personified in her actions even after passing on the crown.


Maxwell stated, “I hope that my Miss America legacy is that I fulfilled the job of Miss America while staying relatable, down-to-earth, and true to myself and my faith. I want every little girl out there to know that she too can be Miss America…because I was Miss America. If I can do it, you can too. If you can just learn to love and embrace yourself for exactly who you are and who God created you to be, your dreams WILL come true.”