By Stephen Smoot
The road started in Pendleton County for Caylie Simmons and it has led all the way to Hollywood, California.
Almost two months ago, Simmons earned the privilege of representing the Mountain State. She said at the time on her Facebook page that “since I was seven years old, I have dreamed of this moment. I am honored to represent my home state of West Virginia at Miss USA.”
At the age of seven, she leapt into the Pendleton County pageant scene. The culture of excellence and strong competition from a young age helped to prepare her for the bigger opportunities that continued to come her way.
Just after her state level win, she posted on social media “such a surreal feeling.”
Simmons will have to endure the butterflies of nervousness and the hard work of preparation for just a few more days. The 73rd Miss USA pageant will air live on national television on the CW Network. Competition will start on Sunday, Aug. 4, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time and last for two hours.
The mission of the pageant can be summed up in one word – empowerment. According to the Miss USA website, “we believe in the power of women to make a difference in the world, and we are proud to have crowned some of the most successful and influential women in the world.”
It goes on to say that “we celebrate the inner beauty and intelligence of our contestants.” Therein lies the reason for the hard work. One cannot simply look stunning. Winning contestants must master the arts of communication and explanation to make the greatest impact on the judges.
Contestants must excel in three categories, evening gown, swimsuit, and talent. Judges spend time with contestants to learn about life achievements and goals. They favor contestants who make an all around strong impression.
Winners of the Miss USA competition have one more step to take after receiving that crown. They get to compete internationally at the Miss Universe competition.
Simmons graduated from the West Virginia University dental hygiene program in 2022 and uses her platform as Miss West Virginia to promote childhood dental health. “I can proudly say I am a first-generation college student in my family,” she explained in an article about her graduation.
She draws inspiration from her brother, Corey, who passed in a tragic car accident in 2019. “This was the most tragic thing to experience and watch my family go through,” she was quoted by WVU as saying. Simmons went on to share that her brother “was known to have the biggest smile and provide the best words of encouragement.”
Corey remained a huge part of her journey through both school and her pageant success. She added that “I hope that writing this brief message about a tragic time I had to experience gives Mountaineer students hope to never give up on your dreams no matter what difficult road you may be facing.”
And this weekend, Simmons could use that inspiration and support to accomplish one of the biggest dreams imaginable — a Miss USA crown.
