Photo Courtesy of Genie Bunton Photo
Miss Orlando’s Teen, Milee Hasting, was named the first-runner up in the 2024 Miss Florida’s Teen pageant, June 29, and captured the audience’s heart not only with her grace and poise but also with her powerful advocacy for women in agriculture during the talent portion of the competition.
“Public speaking come naturally to me but I didn’t think it was a talent,” she said. “When I went to compete in Orlando, some people told me I could never win with public speaking.”
Hasting is proving them wrong.
While other contestants dazzled the judges with singing, dancing and instrumental performances, Hasting, a senior at Strawberry Crest High School, chose to deliver a HER Story, a compelling speech titled “The Farm Girl Who Dreamed Big,” a story about her life growing up on a working farm. Dressed in brown jeans and cowboy boots, she stood confidently on stage and spoke passionately about the challenges farmers face in an industry that is the nation’s lifeline and to encourage women to step into positions in agriculture. “We’re such an asset for the future of agriculture sustainability,” she said.
Facing the captivated audience, she knew whether she won the crown or not, she was a winner. “The fact that I got people interested in the industry and wanting to learn more was a win for me,” she said.
She received a thunderous applause at the end of her speech, which is similar to her community service initiative: “Sow Sisters: Empowering Women, Cultivating Change- One Seed at a Time.”
The experience was empowering for Hasting. “The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to be confident in yourself and you don’t need validation from others to be the best person you can be,” she said. “The biggest thing is to be confident in yourself no matter what the world says or what the barriers are.”
Hasting was also the interview and gown winner.
A young woman of faith, while waiting for the judges to name the winners, she wasn’t praying to win the crown. “I was thanking Him for breaking so many barriers and helping me to achieve my goals,” she said.
After high school, Hasting hopes to attend the University of Florida and major in biotechnology with the goal of helping farmer maintain the nation’s food supply.
While she’s aged out of teen pageants, she plans to compete in the Miss system. Does she have plans to change her talent?
Nope.
“I was made to shine God’s light and advocate for the industry that needs it the most,” she said.