Name: Alexandra Harvey-Sprague

Formerly Miss Forrest Queen 2014
Currently Miss Mohawk Valley 2016

PageantFile Content: Bio
Social Media: Facebook | Facebook
Fundraising: Miss America for Kids

Why did you begin competing in pageants?: I began competing in pageants when I was around 15 years old, but just small fair/festival pageants. I originally started back then because it was something I had never experienced before, and something that no one that I knew did either. I wanted to branch out and open my horizons, so I started trying out small pageants.

It wasn’t until January of 2015 that I started competing in locals. My first local was Miss Flower City and then Miss Mohawk Valley in March of 2015. I wanted to start competing in locals with MAO because I loved the platform aspect of the organization. Traveling and promoting my platform was the real reason I wanted to be as involved in locals as I could. After my first two pageants, I definitely caught the “pageant bug” and really dedicated my time and efforts into trying to improve each time I competed.

What do you hope to gain, other than a title?: I hope to gain confidence in my public speaking abilities, traveling and talking about my platform. I have also met so many people along my journey and I hope to continue to gain friendships that will last a lifetime!

Why is your platform unique? : My platform is unique because it is a very heavy topic. I think that talking about self-harm is terrifying to a lot of people, and that is why I chose it. I want people to be able to talk about this issue and know where to go for help if they or a friend ever need it.

With Miss America in Atlantic City, have you attended or do you plan on attending the pageant? If not, how do you watch the pageant?: I would absolutely love to attend Miss America in Atlantic City! It has never worked out in the past between school work and cheerleading schedules but I really want to attend it this year as a local titleholder! This past year, the first year I was really involved with MAO, me and my roommate got all dressed up and seriously acted like we were at the show. After the show ended, there were videos of me cheering on my top choices and rooting for all the girls during their on stage question (that is the scariest part for me personally) from my living room and then I got multiple phone calls from friends and family asking about my thoughts on the show and about the new Miss America.

What has been your favorite appearance or service event as a titleholder?: I was just crowned a few days ago, so I have not made an appearance yet, but we definitely have so many exciting events on my calendar! You can check out my Facebook page (link above) to keep up with different events I will have been to!

What appearance or service event would you like to do most before the end of your reign? : I would like to do appearances with local active minds groups and also with To Write Love on Her Arms at my school, and at schools in the Mohawk Valley.

I am also working to start a service project, which will be posted about in my blog (missmohawkvalley2016.wordpress.com) soon!

Which is your favorite phase of competition?: My favorite phase of competition is interview. Having that time to talk with the judges individually and letting them get to know me better as a person, not just on the stage, is really important to me.

If you could add or remove one phase of competition, which would it be and how would you adjust the scoring percentages?: I don’t think that I would chance a thing! Earlier, I stated that on stage question was my least favorite part of competition, but it is also extremely necessary. I actually enjoy all the other phases, and agree with their scoring percentages.

How do you prepare for pageant? : I always call my best friend before interview because she is in law school and she always reminds me about last minute politics that I might be forgetting about. Additionally, for talent, I always listen to my music nonstop for a few days before the pageant and really try to focus on how it makes me feel and how I want to convey that feeling to the audience.

What do you plan to do with your experiences after you finish competing or age out of MAO?: I am considering going into mental health occupational therapy, so my experiences talking about self-injury will definitely be helpful there! I also think that the confidence that I gain through MAO will translate so well into virtually everything I do after I age out.

Why should you be Miss America?: I should be Miss America because my platform is such an issue in the world. Self Injury is something that should be talked about and promoting my platform is what would be most important to me as Miss A. I would work tirelessly and endlessly to make sure to reach the maximum amount of people across America, trying to leave a lasting impact on large number of adolescents.