Eyes on the crown: Oak Mountain alum to take national pageant stage
Harleigh Lantrip has been on the pageant stage since before she could walk.
She competed in her first pageant at just a year old, with her dad carrying her on the stage. On April 14, the Oak Mountain High School graduate was crowned Miss Alabama United States on the stage of her alma mater.
The competition featured an opening number, evening gown, swimsuit and onstage question for the Top 5. Lantrip was asked who is the most influential female in today’s society.
“Carrie Underwood, because she always stays true to herself,” she said.
With the win, Lantrip advances to the Miss United States pageant in Las Vegas, where she will compete on Aug. 3. Pageant life may have its ups and downs, but she said she has rarely experienced anything negative. She enjoys getting her hair and makeup done and dressing up, but meeting people is Lantrip’s favorite part of pageant competition.
“I still talk to people I met when I went to Las Vegas for Miss Teen Alabama in 2016,” she said. “It’s fun meeting people across the world. We are all there because we have something in common.”
As Miss Teen Alabama, Lantrip went on to place in the top 10 at Miss Teen United States, then decided to step away from pageant life for a bit.
“After winning Miss Teen Alabama, I stopped doing pageants for a few years,” she said.
She decided to take a break until she competed in Miss Alabama United States in April “and won, so I’m back at it.”
Her mom, Rena’, won Mrs. Alabama in 2007 and was the pageant director for the Teen, Miss and Mrs. divisions for eight years, before becoming national director for the Mrs. United States Pageant. Lantrip wasn’t able to compete while her mom was on staff, but that changed when she stepped down from her position four years ago. She said her mom never pushed her to do pageants and didn’t want her to do them “if her heart wasn’t in it.”
“Harleigh grew up watching all of my queens prepare for nationals and make appearances throughout their reign,” Rena’ Lantrip said. “This was her dream to one day become Miss Alabama United States. I decided to step away so she could chase her dream. I knew if I was involved on any level, she could not compete.”
Her pageant platform, “A Healthy Heart,” was an easy choice to make after almost losing her father to heart complications when she was 14. A widowmaker, which is 100% blockage in the left anterior descending artery, was caught early during his annual checkup. After two open heart surgeries and a month-long hospital stay, he is doing well today.
Since being crowned Miss Alabama United States, Harleigh Lantrip has participated in two heart walks, raising over $1,300 for the American Heart Association. She has enjoyed spending time with other walk participants and knows how fortunate she is to have her dad be there to participate with her.
“My family is super close, and it was surreal to hear stories from other people and knowing everyone there had something in common,” she said.
The Miss Alabama United States Organization celebrates the women of Alabama from 8 years old through married women. To prepare for the national competition, Lantrip works with a trainer who helps her stick to a healthy diet and talks with her interview coach weekly to continue to improve her interview skills.
“I don’t mind being in front of people,” she said. “I used to be nervous during the interview, but I feel more confident as I’ve gotten older. I’ve worked with the same coach for years and she has helped me progress during every stage, but it’s something I’ve had to overcome for sure.”
Lantrip left for Las Vegas on July 21 to compete with 53 other contestants from across the country and U.S. territories in the finals for Miss United States on Aug. 3. At age 20, she will be one of the youngest contestants in the pageant, which accepts ages 20-29.
Her parents, brother, boyfriend and members of his family, along with her pageant director, will be in the audience. Her sorority sisters also will be cheering her on from their watch party in Tuscaloosa.
Lantrip, following in the footsteps of her dad and brother, is a student at the University of Alabama. She will begin her junior year later this month and is majoring in marketing with plans to work in the medical or pharmaceutical sales industry. A member of Zeta Tau Alpha, she said she has a lot of opportunities when she goes back to campus.
“Honor society has pushed me to community service, which is great for Miss Alabama United States and also doing good in the community,” she said.
It’s been a busy summer for Lantrip, full of community service projects, appearances and an internship in marketing and communications at Pharma Point. She will return to Tuscaloosa when classes begin Aug. 21. Even with all her commitments, Lantrip plans to graduate a semester early.
“As for pageants after this, I don’t really have a plan. Whatever happens, happens. My number one concern is graduating. I love pageants, but education is definitely my top priority,” she said.