We recently spoke with Olivia George, the reigning Miss Louisiana, who hails from right here in Texarkana, and asked her a few questions about herself and pageant life.

What led you to compete in Miss Louisiana? How long have you competed in pageants? I really connected with the sisterhood in the Miss Louisiana Organization. After my first competition, I knew I wanted to return. Spending time with the girls and serving our community together has been a big part of my life in the Miss America Organization for 7 years now.

What schools have you attended? I graduated from Texas High School and am currently pursuing a degree in elementary education at Louisiana Tech University.

How important is education in your life? Why did you choose education as your platform? As a third-generation educator and the daughter of two educators, I’ve always seen education as essential for reaching our goals. This belief inspired me to create my community service initiative, Education is Key. Through this initiative, I educate students about the importance of education and how our knowledge can empower us to achieve anything we set our minds to.

Are there any teachers who inspired you from your time at Texas High? I was a member of the Texas HighSteppers for four years and had the privilege of being an officer during my third and fourth years. As Junior Lieutenant and Senior Captain, I formed a close bond with our director, Amber Reynolds. Throughout my high school journey, Mrs. Reynolds was a constant support, from moments filled with laughter during enrichments to emotional breakdowns in her office before 5th period. She was always there for me.

Tell us about your family. What have they instilled in you throughout your life? My parents, Shaun and Leslie George, are both educators in local districts. My dad is the high school principal at Redwater, and my mom is RTI specialist at Texas Middle School. One of the most important lessons they’ve taught me is the value of serving others. Observing their leadership at church and seeing how students depend on them has motivated me to want to have that same positive influence.

What is your goal as Miss Louisiana? This job is the opportunity to lead, serve, and share my community service initiative, Education is Key, throughout our great state of Louisiana. I plan to empower our students to become strong leaders in and outside of the classroom.

What day-to-day things will you do as Miss Louisiana? Every day brings its own unique experiences. Some days, I engage with hundreds of people, while others are spent responding to emails and planning for what lies ahead. Regardless of the tasks at hand, I am grateful for each opportunity and the lessons they bring.

What are your life plans after pageants? After my time as Miss Louisiana, I plan to return to Louisiana Tech University to complete my Bachelor’s and start my Master’s degree. During the 2025-2026 school year, I will be completing my student residency at an elementary school in Lincoln Parish.

Tell us about your talent. Who taught you and coached you in that realm? I performed a jazz dance to Elvis’ ‘68 Comeback Special. I studied dance with Gayle and Ali Burrow at All Star’s Dance Center. At Louisiana Tech, I joined the Regal Blues, led by Caroline Milford.

What was the hardest part of the competition, and how did you prepare? In every competition, the greatest challenge I face is myself: avoiding overthinking, refraining from self-criticism, and learning to trust my abilities. My prayer for this competition was to trust in God’s timing and to find contentment in His decision. I knew that ultimately, whatever the outcome, He would take care of me and place me where I could be of service.

How are you preparing for Miss America? I am continuing to follow the same routines I have always used before a competition, but with much more intensity. Every day, I am dedicated to preparing for the Miss America stage, and I am eagerly looking forward to representing the state of Louisiana.

What would it mean to you to become Miss America? I cannot fully express my gratitude or excitement in words. The chance to serve as Miss America would be incredibly amazing and would mean the world to me.

What do you love about your hometown, Texarkana? What I cherish most about Texarkana is its sense of community. The way everyone supports one another and celebrates together is truly beautiful.

What would you tell younger girls who want to participate in pageants and might dream of being Miss Louisiana or Miss America? If the smallest part of you wants to, go for it. What’s the best that could happen? Never think less of your abilities.

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