Miss Mississippi USA Sydney Russell smiles for a selfie with her classmates at the School of Pharmacy . Photo courtesy of UMMC Photography .
ting connected with certain preceptors that would help me the most and emailing them to explain the situation . Everyone was so understanding and helpful .”
A 2017 high honors graduate of West Lauderdale High School , Russell grew up in a household of boys in the Collinsville community where her parents , Craig and Marcia Russell , still live . With three brothers — Tyler , Kyle and CJ — she and her mom found an escape in beauty pageants .
“ When I was younger , I loved dressing up . I loved getting dolled up because I was the only girl . I grew up with three brothers and we were always outside . I had to be on the other team playing football , or we played soccer . We were outside wrestling or on the trampoline ,” she said . “ So , it was fun just to have a little moment for myself for me and my mom to just have that little bond where I got to doll up and she would help me with things .”
As she grew older and continued in pageants , Russell learned to appreciate the experience more than the dressing up aspect — the self-confidence she developed from being able to walk out on a stage in front of a live audience , the communication skills she gained from practicing for pageant interviews , the new people she met and connected with on a personal basis .
“ I really like the connections that I ’ ve made whether it was with the girls , whether it was with the people putting on the pageant or whether it was the connections you make in general . It is really , really nice ,” Russell said . “ And then , a little bit later , I liked how it really helped me come out of my shell as far as my communication skills , which is something that is very much needed in the pharmacy world .”
Russell ’ s first pageant came in middle school . She placed in the Top 10 her first year , then came back the next year and won the title .
Once again in high school ,
There is no limit to what you can do , and I just don ’ t want ( little girls ) to ever think that there is .
Sydney Russell she placed in the Top 10 her first attempt , then won the crown the following year .
She was a beauty not only with brains , but she had a little brawn , too .
In school , she was a member of the West Lauderdale Lady Knights soccer team , despite her dad ’ s wishes for a female basketball player .
She ended up being part of a talented group of athletes who won back-to-back state championships her junior and senior years . A competitive and aggressive defender , she was a team captain both years .
“ I was super competitive , and it helped that I had three brothers ,” she said , laughing .
During her senior year in high school , Russell applied and was accepted into the pharmacy school ’ s early entry program .
“ Pharmacy was not something that I grew up thinking I want to be a pharmacist . I knew I wanted to help people .
26 • MERIDIAN LIFE