Kaylah Walton
The winner of the Miss Kansas beauty pageant took a bold stand against abusive relationships when she called out her abuser, who was present in the audience after she won the title on June 8.
Alexis Smith won the competition and secured a spot to compete in Miss USA 2025. However, her victory was overshadowed when she noticed her abuser in the audience at Pratt Community College.
“My vision as the next Miss Kansas is to eliminate unhealthy and abusive relationships,” Smith proclaimed onstage. “Some of you saw me emotional because my abuser is here today.
“But that’s not going to deter me from representing Miss Kansas and advocating for healthy relationships within my community.”
Her courage was met with applause and support from the audience as she stood firm in her convictions as a cardiothoracic ICU nurse and aspiring Miss USA contestant.
She took to social media to reinforce her position, empowered by the encouragement she received, refusing to let her abuser wield power over her emotions any longer.
“On the night of Miss Kansas,” Smith shared on Facebook later. “I turned a challenging situation into an opportunity to pursue my vision for a better world. I reclaimed my power not only for myself but for my dreams and those watching.”
Support for Smith from Domestic Violence organizations
Her post on Facebook resonated with fans who admired her strength and independence in confronting her past traumas head-on.
The Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence commended her bravery and advocacy, calling her an inspiration.
Smith revealed that the abusive relationship started when she was 14 and continued until 2018/19, acknowledging that the pain lingers and has motivated her to speak out against domestic violence.
