Kennedy Holland was crowned Miss UCA 2024 on Nov. 12 as Miss UCA 2023 Jada Simpson said goodbye to her reign.

Miss UCA is a preliminary competition for the Miss Arkansas scholarship pageant.

Miss Arkansas 2024 will go on to compete in the 2025 Miss America competition for a chance at the national title and at least $50,000 in scholarship money.

“These women who are competing, they are in their community serving, they are building lifelong skills, lifelong friendships, and they’re doing something that matters to them,” Simpson said.

Miss Arkansas 2022 and UCA alumna Ebony Mitchell, the event’s master of ceremonies, announced the winner of the evening’s competition would win a $6,000 scholarship, $4,000 worth of gifts and another $3,700 would be awarded to other winners.

Mitchell graduated in 2019 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. 

Abigail Wells won the Producer’s Award, Ana Brandon won Photogenic, Paige Goodwin won the Bear Spirit Award, Grace Wagner won an Academic Scholarship for having the highest GPA and Helena Rawlings won Miss Congeniality. 

Each award winner got a $200 scholarship toward their UCA tuition.

Kennedy Holland walked away with the Evening Gown and Onstage Interview awards, worth $200 each.

In order from 4th runner-up to winner, the top 5 winners were: Tori Lane Keiser, Helena Rawlings, Shalexis Shelton, Abigail Wells and Miss UCA 2024 Kennedy Holland. 

In total, Holland won $10,600 worth of scholarships and gifts, $6,600 of which will go directly toward her tuition.

The pageant opened with a dance number starring Simpson.

As Simpson finished her upbeat routine, the 14 candidates paraded through Reynolds Performance Hall’s aisles to the stage in their interview attire.

Each contestant introduced themselves and the organization or group sponsoring them.

Miss Arkansas 2023 Cori Keller made an appearance in her Miss Arkansas crown. 

The judges interviewed the contestants earlier in the day to gain a better understanding of who the women truly are off the stage.

Gina Carter, a former Miss UCA and competition judge said it was “absolutely amazing to see these young women, to see how well-spoken they are, and how passionate they are about the things that they’re doing.”

The interview makes up 30% of the overall score for the competition. 

It’s also an opportunity for the candidates to speak on their Community Service Initiative or CSI.

A CSI is a cause or issue a candidate is passionate about and has taken initiative in her community to raise awareness or funds for.

Miss UCA will travel Arkansas talking to communities about her CSI during her reign.

The onstage question portion of the competition makes up 10% of the contestants’ overall scores.

The judges asked candidates questions to allow them to share their CSI with the audience.

The competition’s next phase featured health and fitness, and each contestant was clothed in red workout attire sponsored by Rebel Athletics.

In a special performance, the UCA Dance Team dazzled the crowd with its energetic dance moves and strong fouettés.

The talent performance makes up 20% of the contestants’ overall score and comprised a piano performance, five vocal performances, three dances, four spoken word performances and a speed painting.

Kennedy Holland won a $200 scholarship for Best Vocal or Instrumental Performance with her rendition of the song “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

Helena Rawling won a $200 scholarship for Best Dance Performance with her contemporary dance to “Way Down We Go.”

Contestant Abigail Wells’ talent was connected to her CSI, More Than Able.

Wells performed a spoken poetry piece titled “Overcoming” about her fight against cancer and overcoming her leg amputation.

Abi Muse, an audience member said, “The talent that stuck out to me the most was the contestant that did speed painting.”

Acelynn Hayes painted a picture of George Strait while his song “Here for a Good Time” played.

Muse said, “Every talent really was amazing, but I had never seen one like this before.” 

Jada Simpson closed out the talent portion with the tap dance that won her the Alpha Preliminary Talent and Overall Dance awards at the 2023 Miss Arkansas Competition. 

The contestants finished the competition with the evening gown portion.

Holland has been competing in the Miss Arkansas and Miss Arkansas’ Outstanding Teen Organization for six years.

After her crowning, Holland shared more about her CSI: “Compassion Legacy is a nonprofit organization that I started three-and-a-half years ago. It started as a platform for me to fundraise and advocate for kids of all abilities, and over the past couple of years it’s turned into an organization where I can fundraise and install more accessible playground equipment. 

“Right now I’m collaborating with a national nonprofit organization called Unlimited Play. We’re in the middle of a $1.3 million project right now in my hometown,” she said.

Jada Simpson’s advice to the newly crowned Miss UCA is to “live in the moment this year.”

“I feel like it was yesterday that I was crowned, so live in the moment and enjoy it,” Simpson said. 

Judge Gina Carter spoke about how difficult this decision was. 

“All of the girls were amazing. It really was difficult. I think what set her [Kennedy] apart for me was how well-rounded she was. She was strong in all of the phases of competition.”

Holland will proceed to the Miss Arkansas 2024 competition next summer. Her preparations for the pageant will include “a constant cycle of exercising and singing and making appearances as Miss UCA,” as well as continually working to better herself. 

“I’m so grateful for this experience,” Holland said.