Contestant 7: Bayleigh Miller

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA): Stanton College Preparatory School's Miss Stanton pageant is coming up, each of this year's participants are competing in hope of becoming the girl who represents Stanton. To better understand their hopes and goals of participating in Miss Stanton, the Devil's Advocate interviewed them to see what they have to say.

DEVIL’S ADVOCATE: What initially made you want to be a part of Miss Stanton? BAYLEIGH MILLER: Initially, I wanted to become a part of Miss Stanton because my mom and my friends influenced me and they thought that someone with as much personality as they think I have, they thought it would be right up my alley and something that I would just enjoy doing no matter the outcome.

DA: What does the possibility of winning the title of Miss Staton mean to you personally? BM: Personally, I feel like it would give me a platform to speak on behalf of the student body and it is a very respected platform and I feel that my personality traits such as being kind to others and respectful of everyone, in general, would help.

DA: Do you hope to accomplish anything by participating in this competition? BM: By participating in this competition I would like to build a better stage presence. I’m really involved with theater already and I think that this is completely different and I think that being in such a competitive competition with a bunch of my friends really builds support among the girls and it is something you don’t usually get every day.

DA: What motivated you to learn how to play guitar? BM: When I was really young, I just always had the inclination. I listened to a lot of country music and then growing up I really just got into acoustic everything and my guitar teacher wasn’t very good and I quit guitar because I didn’t like learning through a teacher that wasn’t as engaged as I was so I got my next guitar about a year and a half ago and I taught myself within a year.

DA: Have you always been into music? BM: Yes, Always. Ever since I was really really little.

DA: In three words or less, how would you describe yourself? Why those three? BM: Outgoing, open-minded, and kind. Kind because you don’t really get anywhere being mean to people. Open Minded because I can see almost every side of an argument and be able to sympathize with pretty much every side. And outgoing because I don’t think I'm very boring, I think I'm pretty interesting and engaging, pretty outgoing. Very Extra.

DA: What advice would you give to sophomores who are interested in doing Miss Stanton next year? BM: Go for it. You have nothing to lose and it's only if you walk away with nothing you walk away with one of the best experiences ever, and the biggest learning experience of your life.

DA: Who is your role model? Why? BM: My role model is my mom because she taught me how to respect myself and others and how to properly present myself in a public setting and how to love myself before I love anyone else and to be myself because that is the best thing I can be.

DA: At what point in your life so far have you been the most satisfied? BM: I've been the most satisfied probably within the past year. I joined theater and I was really happy with my natural abilities, and the more I get involved with things at school, the more I'm able to connect with more people that I haven’t pictured myself talking too before.

DA: What is your favorite motivational quote and how does it relate to your past experiences? BM: “My favorite motivational quote is Carpe Diem (Seize the Day), my sophomore year my favorite soccer coach said that every day before a game an obviously it has kinda stuck since.”