I knew I wanted to be in the healthcare field , but I did not know what I wanted to do ,” she said . “ I knew I was good at math , I knew I was good at chemistry . So , I was kind of looking for something that I knew those things would be incorporated into it , and I kind of fell into pharmacy .”
While working on her bachelor ’ s degree in pharmaceutical sciences with a minor in chemistry , she participated in the university ’ s Parade of Beauties pageant .
Just like her luck in high school , she placed in the Top 10 her first year in the pageant and won the title Most Beautiful her second year of competition in 2021 .
“ That was actually the very first time I had an on-stage question , and I was so nervous . I had never done an onstage question ,” she said . The question asked , “ What was her greatest strength ?” “ Along these lines , I answered my ability to walk by faith and not by sight and just trusting God with the process of life and everything that comes at me ,” she said . “ Whenever I am worried , whenever I am stressed , I just give it to God and trust that He is in control of everything , and I don ’ t have to worry through my day-to-day life because He will take care of everything .”
Russell first competed in Miss Mississippi USA in 2022 and was named third alternate . In April 2023 , she returned to the state pageant and captured the crown , following the same pattern of her previous pageants .
She went on to compete in the national pageant in Reno last September , and even though she did not place in the Top 20 , she said it was one of the best experiences of her life with her gaining many new connections and relationships with incredible women from across the nation .
She was chosen by the judges as the recipient of the Best Impact Award .
Russell has already accepted a full-time position with Kroger Pharmacy after graduation , and she hopes to continue to do a little modeling , which she started in the last few years .
If there is any message that she would like for young girls to take from her being able to successfully juggle both pageants and pharmacy school , it is this :
“ I want them to know you can do absolutely anything that you set your mind to . You shouldn ’ t be limited by , ‘ Oh , because I am in pharmacy school , I can only be a pharmacist ,’” she said . “ You are able to do absolutely whatever you want to do , and it is all about breaking glass ceilings and pushing the limit and getting to where you want to go . If you want to do pharmacy , great . If you want to do beauty pageants , great . If you want to model , then you do that . There is no limit to what you can do , and I just don ’ t want ( little girls ) to ever think that there is .”
When Russell crowns the new Miss Mississippi USA on April 6 at the state pageant held at Pearl River Resort in Choctaw , she said it will probably be her last time to walk across a beauty pageant stage .
“ I think this is the end for pageants ,” she said , “ but as far as modeling , I would still love to model … I ’ ve always loved that . I love walking the runway . I love being in front of the camera . I love dressing up . So the modeling world is still open .”
Until then , she still has one more stage to walk across in Oxford on May 9 . M
Russell holds her award for winning the Best Impact Award at the 2023 Miss USA Pageant in Reno . Photo by Jeremy Eastmond and courtesy of Laylah Rose and the Miss USA Pageant .
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