Jones County Junior College sophomore Leah Laviano will represent the state in the Miss USA pageant tonight in Las Vegas.

“I am ecstatic,” she said. “Representing Mississippi in the pageant is an opportunity of a lifetime. There are numerous career opportunities you can get just from being there.”

Since being crowned Miss Mississippi USA last October, Laviano has represented the state at events and in parades. She also visits schools, teaches modeling and helped form a local 4H club.

Her main platform is self esteem issues. Laviano had a speech impediment as a child, and other children would tease her for her stuttering.

“People would say ‘At least your pretty’,” said Laviano. “Before winning pageants I didn’t have self esteem. Winning gave me a voice and a reason.”

Laviano has competed in numerous pageants including Miss Teen Mississippi USA and Miss Hospitality. She won JCJC’s “Most Beautiful” title in 2006.

Laviano also works at Pageant Complete in Laurel, which she says has played a huge role in her pageant career.

“If I hadn’t had people behind me telling me to compete the first time in the Miss Teen Mississippi USA pageant, I would not have had the courage to even start competing in the system,” she explained.

She also said that working with people has helped her with communication skills. Laviano shares those skills with students of all ages. With her talks, she shows them that they have victories in their lives every day, whether it’s passing a test or being nice to someone new.

“They learn their lives are important,” said Laviano of her talks with students. “The reason we have drug and drinking problems and teen pregnancies...the root of the problem is self esteem. They have to learn to not judge themselves. They have to learn to love themselves.”

Laviano said that not only is she teaching students to love themselves, but in that process, she’s also teaching herself.

“While I’m teaching them, I’m learning to be the best every day.”

Laviano joins a list of JCJC ladies who have been crowned Miss Mississippi USA. JCJC graduate Jill (Tullos) McDaniel (1995) and JCJC Foundation Director Caroline (Ramagos) Kelly (1996) are both past Miss Mississippi USA winners.

The Miss USA pageant will be broadcast tonight. Check local listings for time and channel.