There She Is...

Hello gorgeous and welcome to You Go Girl!

Anyone who knows me at all knows I love Savvy Shields Wolfe. When she was crowned Miss America 2017, and as I watched her complete her year of service, I grew to admire her heart for others and the joy that she exuded. She is one of those people that I don't know in "real life", but through seeing her social media, I feel like we could be best friends. She has a beauty that radiates from the inside out, and that's why she is the feature on this week's blog.

Savvy is a native of Arkansas, where she attended the University of Arkansas to major in art with a minor in business. Before her reign as Miss America, she was crowned Miss Arkansas' Outstanding Teen in 2009. This is the teen division of the Miss America Organization. In 2013, she was crowned Miss Arkansas Collegiate and went on to win Miss Collegiate America.

During her time at the University of Arkansas, she competed as Miss Heart of the Ozarks at the Miss Arkansas competition. After winning the preliminary lifestyle and fitness and preliminary talent awards, she was crowned Miss Arkansas 2016. As Miss Arkansas, she promoted her platform, "Eat Better, Live Better", throughout the state.

Two months later, Savvy competed in the Miss America pageant at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. During the week of competition, she was awarded the preliminary talent award for her jazz dance routine. This award was accompanied with a $2,000 scholarship.

On September 11, 2016, after a week of preliminary competition, Savvy was crowned the 96th Miss America at the end of the televised pageant. Along with the title, she was awarded a $50,000 scholarship. She is the third Miss Arkansas to be crowned Miss America.

During her year as Miss America, Savvy attended red carpet events, promoted her platform of healthy eating, served as the National Goodwill Ambassador for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, and so much more. Savvy traveled across the country for speaking engagements, appearances, and service events. Her platform goal during her year was to shift the mindset of people to see the difference that a healthy lifestyle can make in one's life.

It was during her year as Miss America that I came to admire Savvy's outlook on life and her heart for serving others and using her platform to be a light in the world. Social media allowed me to watch her year and learn about how she was making a difference. Though she wore a shiny crown and gorgeous gowns, I was looking at the real woman behind all of that and saw someone that I admired so much! Savvy's confidence, kindness, poise, and joy outshined all of the glitz and glamour (though I loved that part too). We might not all get the chance to wear a crown and sash, but Savvy showed that you don't have to have a title to be kindhearted, giving, and beautiful from the inside out.

Since passing on the title of Miss America in September 2017, Savvy has placed her focus on her art (check it out here), public speaking, content creation, blogging, emceeing, and her husband of a little over a year, Nate Wolfe.

Savvy has very transparently shared stories, highlights, and struggles from her reign as Miss America. She has an open line of communication with fans through her Instagram stories and direct messages. Almost every day, she shares videos updating people on her life, giving encouragement, and being vulnerable by sharing her struggles. She could absolutely be fake, posed, and edited to perfection in every single post. She doesn't have to share her struggles with the world. However, she chooses to be honest with others by letting them into her struggles so that they will know they are not alone. What I love most about Savvy is that she is real, authentic, and so genuine. She is a beacon of hope, joy, and encouragement that is so needed in this world today!

Be sure to check out Savvy's Instagram, Facebook, and blog to follow her story as she continues to be a light. If you're interested in hearing more from Savvy, be sure to listen to her episode of Sarah Rose Summer's More Than a Crown podcast.

I encourage you to shine bright this week, no matter your platform. Strive to be more vulnerable and authentic every day. There is beauty in being transparent!

You go girl,

Maddie