In a stunning and courageous moment during the Miss Kansas pageant, Alexis Smith publicly called out her domestic abuser, who was present in the audience. Smith, who represented Butler County, took the stage with a powerful message about overcoming abuse, ultimately winning the competition held in June 2024.

“Some of you out in this audience saw me very emotional because my abuser is here today,” Smith declared to the crowd, her voice unwavering. “But that’s not going to stop me from being on this Miss Kansas stage and from representing as the next Miss Kansas. Because I, and my community, deserve healthy relationships”​.

The audience erupted in applause, moved by Smith’s bravery. The incident quickly went viral on social media, with a video clip of her speech amassing over 49,000 views on X (formerly Twitter) within two days​.

Smith later explained her actions on social media, stating, “On the night of Miss Kansas, my journey took an unexpected turn when someone I have been healing from tried to disrupt my peace. Instead of falling into silence, I chose to live out my vision for a better world. I took back my power—not just for myself, but for my dreams and everyone watching and listening”.

Smith’s advocacy platform, “Respect Reclaimed,” is dedicated to promoting healthy relationships and supporting victims of domestic violence. As a survivor herself, Smith has been vocal about her personal experiences with abuse, which began in her teenage years. “My family, every single woman in my family, was impacted by domestic violence,” she shared. “At the age of 14, I got in my first relationship, but it was also an abusive relationship that I was in until about 2018, 2019. It’s something that I’m still experiencing and dealing with today”​​.

Smith, a full-time cardiothoracic ICU nurse, also uses her 19 years of experience in ventriloquism to educate young people about healthy relationships as part of her initiative. Her commitment to this cause and her ability to speak out in the face of adversity have inspired many.

As the newly crowned Miss Kansas, Smith is set to compete in the Miss America pageant in January, where she hopes to continue using her platform to raise awareness and advocate for victims of domestic violence​.