ISU’s Tiarra Taylor ready for Miss America competition live on NBC

Indiana State University senior Tiarra Taylor will be among the women competing for Miss America live on NBC from 8-10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19.

It is the culmination of a dream.

“I can remember moving in here my freshman year,” Taylor said. “I already had my (competition) dresses with me because I knew I wanted to compete in the Miss Indiana State University program.”

Taylor won Miss ISU twice and won Miss Indiana in May. The final night of the Miss America pageant moves from a ballroom to an 8,000-seat arena at the Mohegan Sun casino and resort in Connecticut. Preliminary competition was Sunday and Monday.

Taylor is the second Indiana State University student to compete in Miss America. Kathleen Burke Rice was Miss Indiana in 1961. Taylor and Rice met for the first time in November at a good luck sendoff on campus.

Taylor will graduate with a Communication degree after the spring semester. She remained a full-time student during the fall semester while preparing for Miss America and fulfilling the obligations of Miss Indiana. After graduation, she plans to obtain a license to become a teacher.

“Many Miss Indianas take a semester off school,” Taylor said. “Something in my heart was telling me to go back to Indiana State. I think that was the best decision I could have made.”

That, she said, is because of the people.

“From my professors to staff members, I have so many people in my corner,” she said. “So many people on ISU’s campus are supporting me. People here are selfless and they care so much for students. I got to experience that myself.”

Photos:

Photo 1 - Tiarra Taylor and Kathleen Burke Rice at good luck sendoff for Tiarra at ISU, Nov 2019

Photo 2 - Tiarra Taylor and Kathleen Burke Rice talking at good luck sendoff for Tiarra at ISU, Nov 2019

Photo 3 - Tiarra Taylor singing at Miss Indiana, May 2019:

Photo 4 - Tiarra Taylor as grand marshal at ISU Homecoming Parade, Oct 2019

Media contact:

Mark Alesia, director of university communication

(O) 812-237-3837

(C) 812-229-8020

mark.alesia@indstate.edu

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