From the "Ouachitonian": Tiffany Lee
January 01, 2020
For Tiffany Lee, Feb. 4, 2017 became much more than just any other ordinary Saturday night.
“I had never done a pageant except for one in the fifth grade, and I walked off the stage before they were even done talking about me, so that was pretty embarrassing,” Lee said. “Winning Miss OBU was a complete shock.”
Lee was crowned with her first pageant win as a sophomore mass communications major from Benton. She represented the Women of EEE with her platform of “Stay Hydrated, Stay Healthy.”
“As a senior in high school, I was diagnosed with Syncope, which is linked to chronic dehydration,” Lee said. “I quickly learned the importance of staying hydrated, and I want others to know that, too. Seventy-five percent of Americans are dehydrated daily and don’t even know it.”
The idea to compete first came to Lee from an internship at THV11 with 2010 Ouachita alumna, Alyse Eady, who then became Miss Arkansas and was first runner-up in the Miss America competition.
“When I shadowed Alyse, she advised that I try to do Miss OBU for the connections and networking,” Lee said. “That’s how she got into broadcast, and that is what I hope to do after college. She met people through the pageant system and got a job after Miss Arkansas.”
Lee never actually planned to sign up for the pageant until the EEEs nominated her when she was gone to cheer practice during their weekly meetings.
“I got back to my room after practice, and my suitemates let me know that they had said yes for me to compete,” Lee said. “I was very nervous and didn’t really start practicing until Christmas break. My aunt owns a dance studio, so she helped me figure out my talent, which was a blast.”
Preparation time was cut short during the spring semester with rush and pledge activities with EEE and other obligations with her involvement in the Ouachita Student Foundation, Women in Business and the OBU Cheer Team.
“I wasn’t really going into it to win it or anything. I was just kind of going into it for the fun of it. When I did it, it was really fun, and I still honestly can’t believe I won,” Lee said.
Lee recalled her fellow contestants were one of her favorite parts of the Miss OBU experience.
“I loved getting to know all of the other girls. We all bonded so quickly, and each girl competing for the title was so deserving of it,” Lee said. “You hear so many things about pageants and how girls are all competing against each other on and off the stage, but my experience with Miss OBU was the complete opposite. Everyone was so encouraging and uplifting.”
Lee competed in the Miss Arkansas Pageant on June 11 in Little Rock at Robinson Auditorium, a first time venue for the 80th Anniversary of the Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant.
“Receiving the title of Miss OBU was such a shock. I feel grateful and humbled for this opportunity God has given me at this time in my life,” Lee said. “I could not be more thrilled to see where this journey leads me. I am honored to be the 50th Miss Ouachita Baptist University.”
By Amber Easterly
Photo by Andy Henderson
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