For the talent phase of her most recent pageant, Victoria Garren blew the audience away with a song called “Dirt Road Prayer,” by Lauren Alaina.
“It talks about always having a place to go and a place to feel safe, so that song really connected with me,” Garren said.
Although Plant City will always be that place where Garren can go for safety and comfort, she now lives in Oklahoma and is working her way up there in the Miss America system. She recently won the title of Miss Oil Capital last month in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Garren has competed in pageants since she was a child. Growing up, she was crowned Baby Parade Queen at the Florida Strawberry Festival, earned a title as Junior Royalty and became First Maid in the Strawberry Queen’s court.
As a teenager, Garren started entering pageants in the Miss America circuit. Her charitable platform is Special Olympics Florida, inspired by her cousin, who has suffered from microcephaly since a young age and has competed in Special Olympics events.
“For them, it’s not about who gets first, second or third,” Garren said. “It’s about who crosses the finish line, and they’re all cheering each other on. That really stood out to me.”
Last July, Garren moved to Norman, Oklahoma, to start a graduate program in athletic administration and a video production position with the University of Oklahoma’s athletics department. She wasn’t able to start competing in pageants as an Oklahoman right away, but she did get involved with Special Olympics Oklahoma and helped out with volleyball, basketball and cheerleading.
“I’ve been a cheerleader my whole life, so getting to interact with them was really cool,” Garren said.
But, after completing one semester of classes in Oklahoma, Garren had fulfilled the prerequisite to enter Miss America pageants there. She decided to compete for the title of Miss Oil Capital.
The most heavily weighted phases were talent, for which Garren sang “Dirt Road Prayer,” and interview, when she talked about her work with Special Olympics. There were also swimsuit, evening gown and on-stage question phases.
When third and second places were announced and Garren’s name hadn’t been called, disappointment began to set in. But she soon discovered that she had been chosen for the first-place title.
“It was a really cool moment for me, being in a different state and being able to win the crown,” Garren said.
As Miss Oil Capital, Garren has the opportunity to compete for the title of Miss Oklahoma in June. If she is crowned there, she will continue on to the internationally renowned Miss America event.
“The reason I continue to compete is, one, the Miss America Circuit is great for scholarship money, and two, you get to meet so many people,” Garren said. “You get to serve your community on the local level, as well as the national level.”
HOW TO HELP
The Miss America circuit has a history of benefitting Children’s Miracle Network. Before competing for the title of Miss Oklahoma, Victoria Garren must raise at least $350 for Children’s Miracle Network.
To support her campaign, visit missamericaforkids.org/Donate/victoriagarren.
Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver.com.