Kayla Root, a graduate of Oxford High School and a sophomore at Penn State, was Pennsylvania’s representative at the recent Miss Pageant contest, writes Steven Hoffman for the Chester County Press.

Root has been a regular pageant contestant and was recently crowned Miss Pennsylvania 2019. As a result, she is now traveling extensively around the state.

Root, whose goal is to become a veterinarian, has a dual major at Penn State: microbiology and physics.

She originally started competing in pageants in fourth grade when a classmate nominated her. This little push helped Root start to overcome her natural shyness. Since then, she has experienced the many benefits from participating in these competitions.

“It initially helped me overcome shyness, but over the years, I’ve learned confidence, poise, public speaking, health and fitness, and how to think quickly on my feet,” said Root.

Read more about Miss Pennsylvania 2019 in the Chester County Press here.