Kelsie Madison crowned Miss SAU 2017

2017 Mar 3

Kelsie Madison, an El Dorado native, was recently crowned Miss Southern Arkansas University 2017. The annual pageant was held in Harton Theatre on Feb. 18, 2017.

Madison, a sophomore Marketing major, shed tears of joy as her name was announced on the stage on Saturday. The 19-year old said she had been waiting to be a titleholder and the pageant granted her this exact opportunity.

Madison's passion for pageants, however, extends far beyond obtaining a mere title. Her platform to celebrate those with rare disorders or diseases, "Care About Rare," stems from her experiences with her younger sister. Kohlie, 10, is diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Phelan-McDermid syndrome, which causes delays in speech and communication development. Madison aims to use her influence as a titleholder to bridge this gap.

"It is hard for children or adults like my sister to communicate," Kelsie said recently in an interview with The Bray Online. "I want to be her voice...and a voice for others who have rare disorders."

Madison will be making appearances in south Arkansas, east Texas, and north Louisiana to represent Southern Arkansas University. She is looking forward to spreading the warm, friendly culture of SAU, especially that of the SAU President's Ambassadors, to the people with whom she comes into contact.

When asked about how this has helped her grow as an individual, Madison said that it was the constant interaction between incoming freshmen, the student body, the faculty and administrative staff, and the professors of SAU that has changed her life for the better.

The read Kelsie's full interview with The Bray Online, visit http://www.thebray.com/news/miss-sau-interview/article_94a190d8-fe47-11e6-b7ae-9389b4a7b23f.html