From Business Insider · Anneta Konstantinides · · 1m 20s
How the new Miss America studied for the crown
Regan Hutsell's dad built her a binder of daily current-events questions, and it helped win the title.
In brief
Regan Hutsell's dad built her a binder of daily current-events questions, and it helped win the title. Treat the thing you want like a test you can actually study for, and let the people around you coach you. Originally reported by Business Insider.
A crown 51 years in waiting
Regan Hutsell won Miss America on September 6, the first Miss Texas to take the title in 51 years and the first woman of color to win wearing her natural hair.
Dad ran the drills
Every day her father sent her questions based on current events, then collected them all into a binder she worked through.
“My dad is my toughest interview coach”
Borrowed from a champion
Her dad found a Business Insider piece on former winner Abbie Stockard, who studied a binder of 150 political and current-event topics daily for months.
“That article inspired my prep”
Cable news on the treadmill
When she wasn't answering her dad's questions, Hutsell watched cable news while walking at her local Planet Fitness.
“I did a lot of prep while walking. It just helped me clear my brain”
The whole family competed
Her sister, a former New York City Ballet dancer, coached her talent solo. It was only Hutsell's third pageant ever.
“When I won, it really felt like the whole family had won”
From ballet to physical therapy
After the Rockettes, Birmingham Royal Ballet and two knee injuries, she wanted to give back. She won nearly $90,000 in scholarships and plans to become a physical therapist.
“I have the chance to challenge myself and do something new, to grow to new heights”
What to remember
Treat the thing you want like a test you can actually study for, and let the people around you coach you.
