Miss Kansas bravely calls out her abuser in the audience after her grand pageant win

It takes a lot of courage for an abused person to speak about their abuser in front of a live audience. Alexis Smith who was crowned as Miss Kansas 2024 on June 8, made a harrowing revelation onstage. Smith, who hails from the Butler County of Kansas, beat 25 fellow contestants to snag the pageant title, per KWCH-DT and Garden City Telegram. The 25-year-old shared a clip on her X handle @MissAmericaKS that covered the interview portion of the pageant and she was asked about what her goals as Miss Kansas would be.

Smith boldly stated that her first goal would be to "eliminate unhealthy and abusive relationships." “Some of you out in this audience saw me very emotional because my abuser is here today," she continued. “But that's not going to stop me from being on this Miss Kansas stage and representing as the next Miss Kansas. I and my community deserve healthy relationships. We deserve a domestic violence-free life.” The clip promptly gained traction and garnered over 64,000 views. According to ABC affiliate KAKE, Smith is only the third black woman to win the title of Miss Kansas so far. 

“As Miss Kansas, my platform is deeply rooted in empowering people to break free from cycles of domestic violence and unhealthy relationships. My answer on stage reflects my commitment to fostering a world where every individual feels safe, valued, and empowered to thrive," she told PEOPLE in an interview. "Through the Miss America program, I have found a powerful platform to amplify my voice and advocate for those who may feel silenced or alone. I will use my story as a catalyst for change kicking open doors to inspire others and create a society where everyone can live free from fear and abuse.”

Smith elaborates to the Leader and Times that her goal to eliminate domestic violence stems from her personal experience and a cycle of abuse that she had fallen into at the age of 14. "In my family, every single woman in my family was impacted by domestic violence," Smith mentioned to KSNW, per PEOPLE. Smith recalled about the time when she was a teen and had gotten into her first relationship which was extremely abusive and she was stuck in the relationship till 2019. "It’s something that I’m still experiencing and dealing with today," she shared with the outlet.

 "My journey took an unexpected turn when someone I have been healing from tried to disrupt my peace. Instead of falling into silence, I chose to live out my vision for a better world. I took back my power – not just for myself, but for my dreams and everyone watching and listening," a video on Facebook on the night of the Miss Kansas pageant, captured her words. "This isn’t about shunning others," she added. "It’s about turning our pain into purposes and channeling it in a way that unifies and uplifts.”

Smith also had a chat with KWCH-DT where she revealed her desire to use her ventriloquism skills to spread a positive message to youths. She also displayed her ventriloquism talent during the pageant. "Being able to create our special ventriloquism dolls that are filled with different characteristics of healthy relationships that they want to see in the people around them," Smith, who has been doing ventriloquism for 19 years, told the outlet. She is set to represent the Kansas state in the next Miss America context which will be held on January 2025.