For Madison Belk, pageantry started close to home, and it’s taken her farther than she ever imagined.

A Cum Laude graduate of the University of Mississippi with a degree in political science, Belk is continuing her education this fall at Troy University, where she will pursue a Masters degree in Strategic Communications. But beyond academics and career goals, Belk has built a name for herself through pageantry, holding multiple titles and using her platform to advocate for others.

Her journey began while she was a student at Hernando High School.

“It started in Hernando. At Hernando High School,” Belk said. “I was in the beauty review, and that opened doors for me.”

Though she will not attend this year’s Hernando High beauty review, she said she wishes all of the contestants “nothing but the best.”

Finding her voice

After her first competition, Belk realized pageantry was about more than appearance.

“Learning that pageantry is more than just looking pretty on a stage,” she said. “It gave me the opportunity to have a voice.”

That realization led her to launch her community service initiative, The Peace Project, focused on mental health awareness. Through the platform, she has spoken to more than 12,000 students.

“So students can advocate for themselves and their friends with mental health,” Belk said.

Titles that made an impact

Belk has earned several titles, including Miss Lafayette County, Miss Tupelo and her current title, Miss Jubilee. Among them, she said Miss Tupelo impacted her the most.

“The pageant team truly changed my life,” she said. “They truly supported me on going to Miss Mississippi last year, and they changed my life. I love them all so much.”

She added that she plans to compete in Alabama this summer.

Some of her favorite memories came from friendships formed along the way.

“At Miss Mississippi, one of my best friend’s roommates won it last year, and that was really fun,” Belk said. “My behind-the-scenes one was making Top 10 with two of my best friends. It’s always the best friend moments and backstage moments those are really the big ones.”

The work behind the crown

Belk said audiences often don’t see the reality of competition preparation.

“People don’t see anything,” she said. “We are on stage for five to eight minutes. All the work goes on behind the scenes. There are so many things that girls struggle with that the audience does not get to see.”

To manage nerves before stepping on stage, she relies on both performance training and faith.

“I’m a theater kid at heart,” Belk said. “My old choir teacher, Mrs. Touchstone, taught me the 1-2-3 handshake thing, and it helps me out really well. Or I pray before going out on stage.”

Lessons in leadership

Through pageantry, Belk said she has learned confidence and accountability.

“You have to show up,” she said. “You have to show up for people and show up for yourself. You’re not going to be able to do that for other people if you don’t. I don’t have to be perfect — it’s OK to make mistakes.”

Her achievements continue to create opportunities beyond the stage. She recently has prepared to lobby Alabama state representatives to advocate for mental health funding and share her personal experiences.

“Being able to sit down and share my struggles with mental health and to get funding for a program that helps with mental health is amazing,” she said.

Wearing the Jubilee crown

Now serving as Miss Jubilee, Belk said the title still feels “surreal.”

With the crown comes responsibility, for her that means representing the pillars of pageantry.

“Represent the pillars of the crown — scholarships, service, style and sisterhood and reflect what I am through those,” she said.

From a high school beauty review to speaking with students and leaders about mental health, Belk’s pageant journey has become more than competition it’s a platform for purpose.

And as she continues competing and advocating, she carries both her crown and her cause forward.