What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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BECCA MARTIN-BROWN NWA Democrat-Gazette S tephanie Barber says her life has been a whirlwind since she was crowned Miss Arkansas USA on May 23. But if that's true, she's about to step into the eye of the storm. Barber leaves today for the Miss USA Pageant, being held this year at the River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa. She'll jump right into fittings, rehearsals and media events around Tulsa, then begin the preliminary competitions, interviews and, on Nov. 28, represent Arkansas in the first state costume show in many years. The pageant finals will be live on FYP and Hulu starting at 7 p.m. Nov. 29. If she doesn't win the national title, Barber, who grew up in Dallas but has family roots in Siloam Springs and graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and political science, will come back to Arkansas and continue to travel the state to encourage youngsters to pursue their dreams. But if she does win the Miss USA title, she'll leave the next day for the Miss Universe Pageant in Israel. "The Miss Universe events will have already started, so Miss USA will be a few days late," she says. "After that, Miss USA spends the rest of her reign in Los Angeles and traveling around the country." "It's so surreal that I'm living out this dream," she says. During the last-minute countdown to the pageant, Barber took time to answer five questions for What's Up! Q. Tell us about your experiences since you were crowned. I've traveled all around Arkansas and to countless states. I need to sit down and track exactly how many miles! I've been everywhere from Decatur to Searcy to Jonesboro, visiting schools to speak to them about my journey growing up with dyslexia and finding my confidence through books. I also had the opportunity to travel to Cancun, Mexico, with all 50 of my Miss USA sisters to shoot our official headshots for Miss USA, along with other fun content. Q. What have you done to prepare for Miss USA? I've had three "boot camp" trips around the country where my fabulous sponsors NOVEMBER 21-27, 2021 WHAT'S UP! 3 FAQ Miss USA Pageant WHEN — 7 p.m. Nov. 29 WHERE — River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa WATCH — Live on FYP and Hulu INFO — missusa.com See Miss USA Page 4 On The National Stage Miss Arkansas USA ready to begin competition "Growing up with dyslexia was challenging for me, and I was insecure about my academic abilities for most of my childhood," says Stephanie Barber, Miss Arkansas USA. "I had incredible parents, teachers and tutors who pushed me to overcome my dyslexia. While I was in high school and volunteering in an underserved school, I was awakened to the reality that not all students have the same access to educational opportunities that I have had. That didn't sit well with me, and I have worked with literacy organizations ever since." Barber has been traveling Arkansas to assure youngsters they can be successful in spite of challenges like dyslexia and hopes to speak on that topic at the Miss USA Pageant Nov. 29. (Courtesy Photo/Stephanie Barber) FYI Listen Here! Listen to a conversa- tion with Stephanie Barber last summer in a podcast at nwaonline. com/716barber/ Read More! And read more about Miss Arkansas USA at missarkansasusa.com. This is her official Miss USA portrait, taken by Grant Photos. FAYETTEVILLE