Ouachita Stories

Lauren English, a junior mass communications major from Hot Springs and Miss Ouachita Baptist University 2008, was named first runner-up at the Miss Arkansas pageant.

English was introduced to the pageant world toward the end of her high school career.

“I was a huge jock all throughout junior high and high school,” English recalled. “A friend of mine dared me to enter my high school pageant, Miss Lakeside, during my junior year of high school because I loved to sing.”

Since winning that pageant, English has competed in the Miss Arkansas pageant the past two years and was named to the Top 10 both times.

“It was so exciting to be named into the Top 5 this year,” English said. “Once the Top 5 were announced, we had a casual question/answer time with the emcees, and then the naming of the awards began. As they announced the 4th, 3rd and 2nd runners-up, I stood facing my roommate at Miss Arkansas for the past two years, Ashlen Batson. We had become close friends during our experiences at Miss Arkansas. As they started to announce the winner, I was completely satisfied with knowing that I had done my best. It was so neat to get to share that moment as the last two standing with my friend.”

Justin Harper, a co-director of the Miss OBU pageant, has attended the Miss Arkansas pageant three years.

English “worked so hard, and I was so excited that she had made it that far,” Harper said. “Of course, I would have loved for her to win. … I think that Lauren stands for what Ouachita stands for. She has a vision to make the world around her the best it can be. She upholds her integrity, and she is someone that we as Ouachita students, faculty and staff can and should aspire to be like.”

As first runner-up, English represented Arkansas and Ouachita at the recent Miss National Sweetheart Pageant in Hoopeston, Ill. She said she is also looking forward to continuing to represent Ouachita as Miss OBU during the coming months.

by Adam Wheat