Anna Bain looks back at her 2019 reign
Selah Vetter / Staff Writer
Correction: This post originally stated that Anna Bain was Miss Samford 2018. This post has been updated to clarify that Anna Bain was crowned Miss Samford 2019, not 2018.
A line of young women adorned in dresses waited eagerly to be crowned Miss Samford, but only one can wear the crown.
Anna Bain sits before me wearing that crown. Elegant, personable and outgoing, it is easy to see why she won the Miss Samford Pageant last year. Her reign is almost over, but she is ready to hand over her crown.
“I’m the number one cheerleader for the next Miss Samford,” Bain said.
Before Miss Samford last year, Bain never participated in a pageant. As a freshman, Bain attended the Miss Samford Pageant to watch her friend compete.
“I went to the pageant and I was like I want to do this,” Bain said.
By practicing and preparing with a former Miss Samford and her parents, Bain won. She also competed at the Miss Alabama Pageant this past summer. According to the Miss Alabama competition, Bain competed against 43 women.
“Miss Alabama was the greatest thing in the world,” Bain said.
Miss Samford is part of the Miss America Organization. Katie Boyd, an assistant professor at the McWhorter School of Pharmacy, directs the pageant.
“Miss Samford is an ambassador for the university and spends time volunteering with the university to further promote its mission and values,” Boyd said.
Miss Samford works with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Hospitalized as a child, Bain once thought she could never go to college. She relates to the children she visits at hospitals.
“I can say I was in your place too,” Bain said.
Bain also worked with the Ronald McDonald House, churches and organizations at Samford University. This past year as Miss Samford, Bain also continued to grow a non-profit she created that brings creative arts to children in need.
“You get out of it what you put into it,” Bain said. “It’s a lot of work, but rewarding.”
The individuals Bain works with and her friends recognize her success as Miss Samford.
“Anna has gone above and beyond as an ambassador for Samford this year,” Boyd said. “I couldn’t be more proud of the job she has done.”
Madison Ward, a sophomore, is a contestant for Miss Samford this year. She admires the work Bain accomplished.
“Whoever is the new Miss Samford has huge shoes to fill,” Ward said. “Anna has worked so hard to promote her personal platform as well as the Miss America Organization throughout her entire year.”
Bain’s reign as Miss Samford comes to a close, but she plans to continue the work she started. She hopes to continue working with the partnerships she established. She is excited to mentor and work with the next Miss Samford.
