Brittany Sharp used to be a tomboy — now, she’s preparing to compete in the Miss USA 2013 pageant.
Sharp, a senior journalism major and aspiring sportscaster from Roswell, won the title of Miss Georgia USA in November.
Previously Miss Georgia Teen USA in 2006 and fourth runner-up for Miss Teen USA that same year, Sharp began pageantry in order to help with her modeling and acting career.
Her career includes modeling in Teen Vogue and Teen People, and she has acted on television shows such as American Reunion, Vampire Diaries and in a music video for rapper T-Pain, according to a press release.
“My modeling agency Arlene Wilson encouraged me to enter my first pageant, Miss Georgia Teen USA, when I was 15. They thought it would provide me with many benefits including: maturing my runway walk, bettering my interview skills for auditions, [and] generating some publicity for my acting and modeling career,” Sharp wrote in an email to The Red & Black. “I was kind of a tomboy growing up, so the thought of competing in pageant scared me to death! I wanted to try something new and outside my comfort zone so I went for it. Beginners luck and a lot of hard work lead me to win that night [and] I went on to represent Georgia at Miss Teen USA 2006.”
As Miss Georgia USA 2013, Sharp will be a spokeswoman for breast and ovarian cancer with Susan G. Komen for the Cure. With this postion, she will travel throughout the state to teach women about cancer awareness, prevention and early detection.
Kim Greenwood, the director of the Miss Georgia USA, Miss Mississippi USA and Miss Tennessee USA — as well as the winner of Miss Tennessee USA 1989 — said she is thrilled Sharp will be representing Georgia as Miss Georgia USA.
“Brittany is an exceptional young woman who is very smart and beautiful,” Greenwood said.
Reggie Lewis, the business manager for Miss Georgia USA, said during the pageant, Sharp had to go through an evening gown, swimsuit and interview portion.
When she was named as one of the top five participants, she had to answer a question in order to gain the crown of Miss Georgia USA.
Since winning, Sharp has been able to participate in many different events around the state. Sharp appeared on CBS’s “Better Mornings Atlanta,” attended an event called Cure for Childhood Cancer in downtown Atlanta and was able to attend Peach Bowl festivities. She also participated in the Chick-fil-a Bowl.
“She was the Chick-fil-a Bowl Queen and was able to meet both coaches and contestants for the game,” said Lewis when discussing what Miss Georgia USA does after she wins the title.
Compared with the Miss America competition, Miss USA does not involve a talent portion.
Sharp will represent the state of Georgia at the nationally televised 2013 Miss USA competition Las Vegas this summer.
“It is televised on NBC, hopefully April or May,” said Lewis. “We really want all her fellow Bulldogs to support her and vote for her to help get her into the top 16.”
Sharp is also a part of Roswell First Baptist Church, CURE for childhood cancer foundation volunteer and a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, which is involved with the Athens Chapters of two national philanthropies — Prevent Child Abuse America and Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.
