With less than six weeks to go until the Miss America Pageant, newly crowned Miss Arkansas 2016 Savvy Shields was whisked away to Washington, D.C., early Sunday morning to meet her fellow state titleholders.
Her first official trip as the new Miss Arkansas came less than 12 hours after receiving the title late Saturday night on the Bank of the Ozarks Arena stage.
"I am so excited and feel very undeserving to get this. I cannot wait for this next year and cannot wait to meet the people of Arkansas," Shields told The Sentinel-Record late Saturday night shortly after her name was announced.
Shields, a senior at the University of Arkansas, received scholarships of $25,000 from Ted and Shannon Skokos, Citgo and the Miss Arkansas Foundation; $1,500 Tony Bowls Designs Overall Evening Gown; $1,500 Katie Bailey Overall Swimsuit; $250 Overall Alpha Evening Gown; $250 Overall Alpha Talent; $250 Overall Alpha Swimsuit; and $250 Overall Alpha Interview. Along with her scholarships, she received $75,000 in awards, wardrobe, transportation and gifts, according to a news release.
"During the top 10 announcement, every single girl started crying for the next one," Shields said. "We were so excited because over the week we just have formed the most incredible friendships. I can't wait to hug them. It's been so exciting."
Miss University of Arkansas Savannah Skidmore was first runner-up; second runner-up was Miss South Central Arkansas Brooke Cornelius; third runner-up was Miss Arkansas State University Bailey Moses; and fourth runner-up was Miss University of Central Arkansas Ashton Purtle.
"About eight years ago when I was Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen, I got to watch my Miss Arkansas do this job, Sarah Slocum. And I got to see that this is the greatest job in the world," Shields said during a news conference held shortly after her crowning. Traditionally, the new Miss Arkansas gives a news conference on the Sunday afternoon following the pageant, but that changed this year due to the mandatory Miss America meeting in Washington for the state titleholders.
"I also realized that I would have to wait until I was ready. I had to wait until I was mentally, emotionally and spiritually ready to do this job."
With two former Miss Americas on the judging panel, Shields said she and other contestants were intimidated, but each walked out recalling how beautiful Miss America 1990 Debbye Turner Bell and Miss America 1994 Kim Aiken Cockerham were when they competed.
"They asked me if my real name was Savvy and I really didn't like to reveal to them that it isn't. Savanna, but everything else says Savvy," Shields said. "Every single girl, as they came out of interview, were saying that they were so beautiful because they are. So you'd be in the interview room staring at them and then it would click that they were Miss Americas and you would straighten your back up a little, but it was incredible."
From her transition into the Miss pageant, Shields said she felt more invested in acquiring the 2016 Miss Arkansas crown. Shields set goals, and though there were several days she did not feel like working out or answering interview questions, her family and supporters pushed her to continue her training.
"A lot of emotions was in this and a lot of time has been spent on this," Shields said. "It took a village to get here."
Shields has six weeks until stepping foot on the Miss America stage for her chance at the national crown. Though she feels it would be tempting to rush through the next several weeks of preparations, Shields says she will have to remember to stop and soak in the moments at the national pageant.
"I am just excited to hug them (the state titleholders) and meet them and excited to experience this experience. It's crazy, you only get to go to Miss America once. It's very few and very rare that you get to live out those dreams. I feel very humble that I get to do so."
After her reign is complete in July 2017, she will continue her education as a senior at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and obtain her degree in art.
Local on 07/11/2016