Miss Kansas Theresa Vail is more than just a beauty queen. Theresa is overcoming stereotypes, inspiring women all over the country, and making history. At the 92nd annual Miss America pageant, Vail will reveal her tattoos, being the first contestant to do so in pageant history. Not only is she inked but she is also a sargeant in the US Army. Her resume includes skills as a mechanic, hunter, skydiver, and an expert boxer. Theresa also knows her way around a bow and arrow, and is bilingual.
The pageant contestant joined the Army National Guard after she turned 17 and re-enlisted for more than six years.
She is also double majoring in Chemistry and Chinese at Kansas State University.
Theresa will be bearing the insignia for the U.S. Army Dental Corps on her left shoulder and the Serenity Prayer running down the backside of her rib. Vail has always been an outdoorsy person and ever since she was 10 she’s been a keen hunter. After news broke out about her, People sat down the sargeant and pageant contestant to get her input on why she’s choosing to bare her tattoos: “My whole platform is empowering women to overcome stereotypes and break barriers. What a hypocrite I would be if I covered my ink. How can I tell other women to be fearless and true to themselves if I can't do the same? I am who I am, tattoos and all."
Nine months after fulfilling her dream of becoming a dentist in the US Army, Theresa entered her very first beauty pageant. Two days before the competition she was told that her somewhat dangerous talents were not allowed for display in the competition, so she quickly chose a new one—opera.
Theresa said, “I'd never sung opera in my life. I had an appreciation for it and I sang soprano in choir back in high school, but I hadn't sung since then and certainly never opera.” Leave it to her to accept any challenge.
She mastered Luciano Pavarotti's "Nessun Dorma" within 48 hours and took home the title in the Miss Kansas pageant.
Vail added, "Nobody expects a soldier to be a beauty queen. But I'm all about breaking stereotypes."
On her personal blog, Theresa states, “Anything boys can do girls can do better!” She is definitely proving to audiences that anything is possible as well as encouraging women to fulfill their dreams!
Image Credit: Theresa Vail’s Twitter page