Djuan Trent remembers very fondly the day she decided she wanted to compete in the Miss America pageant. “I was sitting in the basement of Seabury Residence Hall at Berea College with my best friend watching the 2009 Miss America Competition and I turned to her and said, I could probably do that.” The response she received was, “Just do it.”

Photo from http://www.yenra.com/wiki/Miss_Kentucky_Djuan_Trent

Djuan Trent, 24, Berea graduate of 2009, proudly walks across the stage to take her place as one of the top 15 finalists in this year’s Miss America Pageant. Held in Las Vegas at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, the Miss America competition is a long-standing event which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states. The winner of the national pageant is awarded the title of "Miss America" for one year and $50,000 to the charity of their choice.

Trent was crowned Miss Kentucky this past year and has since been pushing for homelessness to be dealt with in America. Winners of the competition are given scholarship money to their charity of choice. Even though Miss Trent didn’t take home the coveted crown, being a semi-finalist lights her heart the same.