By: Isabelle Puente
The Miss Volunteer America 2027 winner is … Miss Texas Volunteer Amanda Higginbothom.
An emotional win for the new Miss Volunteer America from the Dallas, Fort Worth Area,
Higginbothom gave Golden Media Group insight on what emotions were flowing though her
during this time.
“It’s just a rollercoaster of emotions, it is so exciting, I’m filled with such gratitude, such
empowerment,” Higginbothom said. “I am so ready to hit the ground running and I think that is one of the best things about the year to come.”
The Miss Volunteer America pageant has officially come to an end. In a night filled with
scholarships, talent and applause there is finally a new Miss Volunteer America.
“I think it means to be a representative and a role model in the best authentically way you can,” Higginbothom said. “I know one of my favorite quotes I live by is good, better, best, don’t stop until your good is better and your betters your personal best. That to me is the motto of Miss Volunteer America.”
The night started with an opening musical number and the 51 contestants proceeding onto the stage.
The event consisted of all four categories fitness and wellness, talent, evening gown and interview, with the judges narrowing down to the final five ladies after each category ended.
The night also included a special honoring of the Miss Volunteer America founder, Allison
DeMarcus, being awarded keys to the city of Jackson.
The final five ladies were:
Miss Texas Volunteer: Amanda Higginbothom
Miss Mississippi Volunteer: Mattie Grace Morris
Miss Georgia Volunteer: Peyton Christen
Miss Illinois Volunteer: Nicole Taylor
Miss Oregon Volunteer: Sophia Takla
Higginbothom graduated from University of North Dakota where she double majored in
Aeronautical Sciences and International Studies. The way she upholds the S.E.R.V.E acronym
which means scholarship, education, responsibility, volunteerism and empowerment is through the Spark Initiative that she created which is an after-school STEM program for local Salvation Army organizations.
Through her win, Higginbothom received a $50,000 scholarship and became an ambassador for St. Jude Children’s hospital and the Salvation Army. Higginbothom also shared words of
encouragement with Golden Media Group for young girls across the U.S. that want to get into
the pageant world but might be weary of it.
“I always say if you can close your eyes and just take a breath, and imagine yourself being a
volunteer titleholder, like who could you influence, what could you do and who could you
become,” Higginbothom said. “So if you just dream it, you can believe it and then you can
achieve it so imagine yourself in that role and then work backwards. There’s sponsorships,
there’s scholarships, there’s so many businesses that you can reach back to, to get that goal.”
(PHOTO: Amanda Higginbothom is crowned Miss Volunteer America 2007)
