Miss Arkansas 2022 crowned

Ebony Mitchell was crowned Miss Arkansas 2022 at the end of the pageant, held on June 18, 2022, at the Robinson Center in Little Rock. Miss Dogwood succeeds Miss Arkansas 2021, Whitney Williams, of Conway and now begins the preparations to represent the Natural state at the next edition of Miss America, to be held in December 2022 In Connecticut. First the first time in the pageant’s 84-year history, this history-making moment of two Black women winning both titles in the same year is reflection of representation for the small-town winner. The new Miss Arkansas also won the following awards during the pageant week: Preliminary Evening Gown Preliminary On-Stage Interview Preliminary Talent Asher Ray Mentor Award The ”All Grown Up” Award Overall Dance Award Grace Scholarship in Memory of Madelyn Grace Johnson Bill Tarkington Overall Evening Gown Sarah Slocum Overall Private Interview Scott Landers Business Profession Marketplace Scholarship. She takes home a total of $44,900 in scholarships from all the awards she won this week.

Danny Barger Photography

Mitchell said when she watches her crowning moment, it really sinks in. “I kind of totally don’t remember that moment,” Mitchell said. “You kind of lose all sense of where you’re at at the time. But it’s just been incredible. I can’t say thank you enough to everyone who has helped me get there.“

The 2022 winner is originally from Harrison, Arkansas, where she attended Harrison High School throughout her entire education. Following, she attended the University of Central Arkansas, where received her Bachelor’s of Business Administration degree in 2019. She has since graduated with her Masters degree of Health Administration at John Brown University.

During her reign, she will promote her personal platform of “A Responsible Digital You” “It’s all about being safe online and keeping our children safe online,” she said. “I had a really close friend who was a victim of an online predator when we were in Junior High. To witness her go through that was traumatic.” Going to college and learning about social media through marketing, Mitchell knew this was an area she could champion. “I knew I could partner with people like the Attorney General’s office and the Department of Education to really get the word out about my impact,” she said.

She began her journey in this organization when she was just 9 years old. She began as a princess, made her way to the teen organization, where then she realized she wanted to make her dream come true of being Miss Arkansas. Mitchell said the moment is a mixture of both disbelief and joy. “It’s such a huge moment,” Mitchell said. “So few women get to live that moment and you dream about it. I’ve watched the Miss America pageant since I can remember. The fact that I get to go there and compete and represent the best state in America is indescribable.”

“Growing up in a small town, I never really saw that representation for myself,” Mitchell said. “I know there are so many people who feel that same way. It’s an honor to be that representation that I needed as a young girl and for Ka’Maya to be that for other young girls is incredible.“

She previously competed in the Miss Arkansas Competition as Miss Metro, Miss UCA, Miss Central Arkansas and Miss North Central Arkansas. She also competed in the Outstanding Teen program as Miss North Central Arkansas’ Outstanding Teen, Miss Lakes of the Northwest Outstanding Teen and Miss Northwest Arkansas’ Outstanding Teen. Throughout her years competing previously she has accumulated over $20,000 in scholarships.