Alexis Smith, Miss Kansas Winner, Uses Platform to Advocate for Domestic Violence Survivors
Alexis Smith, the newly crowned Miss Kansas, is garnering widespread attention for using her platform to highlight the issue of domestic violence. During her victory speech, she made a powerful statement by addressing her alleged abuser, who was present in the audience.
“Some of you out in this audience saw me very emotional because my abuser is here today,” Smith announced to the crowd in a widely shared video. “But that’s not going to stop me from being Miss Kansas and from representing as the next Miss Kansas. Because I, and my community, deserve healthy relationships.”
Last week, Smith shared a clip of her remarks on Instagram, elaborating on how the incident connected to her advocacy platform, “Respect Reclaimed.”
“On the night of Miss Kansas, my journey took an unexpected turn when someone I have been healing from tried to disrupt my peace,” she wrote. “Instead of falling into silence, I chose to live out my vision for a better world. I took back my power—not just for myself, but for my dreams and everyone watching and listening.”
Smith’s personal connection to the cause is deeply rooted in her family history. “My family, every single woman in my family, was impacted by domestic violence,” she told news outlet KSN. “At the age of 14, I got in my first relationship, but it was also an abusive relationship that I was in until about 2018, 2019. It’s something that I’m still experiencing and dealing with today.”
She credits the Miss Kansas Organization for providing her with a platform to empower herself and others. “I took advantage of the Miss Kansas Organization, which truly focuses on empowering women,” she said. “And me, being a woman who needed that empowerment all my life, being a bystander to domestic violence, a victim, a survivor, and now an advocate as well as a young woman who is educationally driven, I have the opportunity not only to share my story on such a large scale but also go back to school.”
Smith’s courageous stance has resonated with many, highlighting the ongoing need for awareness and support for survivors of domestic violence.