Miss Louisiana 2022 Gracie Reichman talks about Miss America life after pageants and more
Colfax's Gracie Reichman is about to hang up her crown for good after serving as the 2022 Miss Louisiana and representing her state competing for Miss America.
The moment she won Miss Louisiana, Reichman recalls a verse from the Bible -- Esther 4:14 -- that popped into her head: "perhaps this is the moment for which we were created."
"I knew that sharing my heart at Miss America, that was one reason why I was created," she said.
While Reichman wasn't able to secure the crown at Miss America, she did take home the non-finalist Talent Award for her impressive clogging skills. She jokes that she could clog before she could walk, and it makes sense as Reichman considers being a part of the Regal Blues dance team her greatest accomplishment outside of pageants.
"I love people, and I love showcasing who I am as a person," Reichman said. "Regal Blues gave me the opportunity to do that with 20 young women by my side. So, Gracie not only became who she was, but she also became a part of something bigger and a part of something that represented the university that I hold close to my heart."
Reichman said that during her years competing she invested in finding out who she truly was outside of the crown and the sash and showcasing it loud and clear. From her "Think Twice, Be Nice" social impact initiative that helped others learn to speak to themselves better to creating relationships with girls from other states, Reichman will take these experiences with her to the next chapter.
Find Out More About Gracie Reichman: Get to know Miss Louisiana 2022 ahead of the Miss America pageant
Currently, Reichman is studying Kinesiology and Health Sciences at Louisiana Tech University and will begin her Doctorate in Physical Therapy with an Advanced Certification in Sports Physical Therapy after. As a former softball and soccer player in addition to dancing, Reichman holds a special interest in not only helping athletes with their physical recovery, but the mental and emotional as well.
"Athletics has been such a big part of my life in addition to pageants," Reichman said. "I want to give back to athletes who have been injured and want to get them back to the things they love to do. That's one thing that's really special to me, to not only be there for them physically, but emotionally as well, because those can be some troubling times."
After handing over her crown, Reichman also will hang up her clogs and will put all of her focus on finishing school. While she said she'll miss the friendly competition that pushed her to constantly better herself, she's ready to find out who Gracie is in this next chapter of life.
"I know that this next girl is going to have the same wonderful opportunities that I had, and I know that she's going to make this title her own," Reichman said. "I'm really excited to see how she takes Miss Louisiana to the next level and showcases her heart, and I'm really excited for her."
The Miss Louisiana Preliminary Competition will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 15, at the Monroe Louisiana Civic Center and conclude at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June. The Miss Louisiana Pageant will be at 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 17, with the 60th Anniversary Gala Celebration taking place after.
You can watch on these local channels:
Alexandria: KLAX
Baton Rouge: WBTR
Lafayette / Lake Charles: KATC-CW
Monroe: KNOE
Morgan City / Thibodaux / Houma: KWBJ
New Orleans: WUPL
Shreveport: KPXJ
Meredith G. White is the arts and culture reporter for the Shreveport Times. You can find her on Facebook as Meredith G. White, on Instagram and Twitter as @meredithgwhite, and email her at mgwhite@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Miss Louisiana 2022 says goodbye before hanging up her crown for good
