After three first-runner-up pageant finishes in a row, Dr. Brandy Palacios finally took home the crown. Last month she took home the title of Mrs. Missouri 2018, and will compete in the national Mrs. America Pageant in Las Vegas next month.
In 2017, Palacios finished as first runner up in Mrs. Missouri. That was followed up by a first-runner-up finish in the Mrs. Eco Missouri Pageant, and a similar finish in the Mrs. Missouri USA pageant.
“This year, I didn’t know if I was going to do it again,” said Palacios, “but I met so many great people in the pageant that year.” So, she pulled on her inner strength, and decided to prepare before trying it again. Preparation made all the difference.
In the year between the pageants, she worked with coaches and polished up her act.
One coach helped with her wardrobe, walking and stage presence. Another helped with her messaging. Her platform is “Creating STEMsational Kids,” and she worked hard at better sharing her passion about STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) with others.
After a year and a couple of practice pageants that ended with those runner-up finishes, she was ready.
“I was able to express my platform more clearly. My stage presence had gotten better. I found my groove with who I was and what I wanted to represent,” said Palacios.
She’s especially proud to be the first African-American Mrs. Missouri. However, Kansas has reason to be proud of her too. Palacios was born in Missouri, but she was raised in Kansas. She attended KCK public schools, graduating from Sumner Academy.
She attended Tuskegee Institute, majoring in biology, with hopes of becoming a medical doctor. However in her senior year, she hit burn-out and discovered the field of physical therapy at a college career fair. She returned to Kansas City and worked a while as a physical therapy assistant before returning to college. In 2015, she receive her doctorate degree in physical therapy from the University of St. Mary’s in 2015.
Her previous pageant experience included competing for the title of Miss Black and Gold at Tuskegee and then winning the title of Miss Black Kansas in 2004.
She moved into the Mrs. Ranks seven years ago, after dating her husband for almost six years. At a mature 37, she appreciates the blessings in her life, and there have been plenty.
We’ll keep you posted on her success in Las Vegas. The pageant will be held Aug. 18 – 25 at the Westgate Resort and Casino.