LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – It’s been just more than two months since Theresa Vail took the national stage at the Miss America Pageant, shocking people around the world for choosing to show her tattoos. Since then Vail has been one of the most sought-after women in Kansas.
She even broke a record for the most public appearances for Miss Kansas in the month of October.
Theresa says she believes her choice to show her tattoos cost her the Miss America Crown, however. She says she doesn’t think Miss America was ready for a winner with tattoos.
“I do think it cost me the crown, but I wasn’t there to win the crown,” Vail said.
Theresa Vail says she doesn’t need the crown, she’s already living the life of Miss America, traveling daily to spread her message of empowerment. Her donated Ford F-150 proves she’s always on the move. She says along the way, there are always people who have something negative to say about her, but those are the people she doesn’t pay attention to.
“I’m made of Teflon. I’m made of iron, I think, so I say that the military has desensitized me.”
Theresa says what keeps her going is the impact she knows she’s having on young people’s lives, encouraging them be true to themselves like she is.
“It’s all from being myself, and that is my message, that’s what I want to tell girls, you don’t have to pretend to be anything, you don’t have to fit a certain mold, be yourself and you’ll be successful,” Vail said.