Junior Haylee Puckett will represent Texas in the National Miss High School America Pageant in Little Rock, Arkansas, in June 2023 after winning the state title in November.

The Miss High School America Scholarship Pageant Organization was founded in 2009 with the goal of giving girls now enrolled in grades 9 through 11 the opportunity to pursue personal and career goals. Its mission is to give exceptional high school girls the chance to compete in a pageant system that upholds the greatest moral standards. Approximately $100,000 will be awarded to Miss High School America 2023 in scholarships, excursions, clothing, travel, service and other rewards. During the national competition, the delegates will be scored in three categories – an individual interview with judges, evening gown and fun fashion.

Haylee’s personal platform is Mindset Matters which is all about teaching young adults and teens the purpose of self-love and believing in yourself. Haylee chooses this as her platform because she in the past has struggled herself with confidence and self esteem issues. Haylee promotes this platform through her Mindset Matters Monday series on Instagram and through her self-love journal that is out on Amazon.

B.R.A.V.E. is the official national platform and anti-bullying campaign of Miss Jr. High, High School, and Collegiate America Organization. B.R.A.V.E. promotes Building Respect and Values for Everyone through classroom, library, and community initiatives to school-aged children and their parents to create awareness and to promote a bully-free and safe environment. Haylee’s plan for the year is to bring Mindset Matters and B.R.A.V.E together to create a better and memorable learning experience for students.

“In 8th grade I had low self-esteem and confidence issues,” Haylee said, explaining how she started participating in pageants. “Pageantry claimed to preach to do the opposite of that, so basically making girls more confident in themselves, and that really interested me.” 

During Haylee’s pageant career she has won three state titles – National American Miss South Texas Teen, USA National Miss Texas Teen and Miss Texas High School America. She’s also placed in the top five in the nation at the National American Miss Junior competition. 

With all the amazing moments Haylee has accomplished her favorite memories so far from pageantry is when she won Miss Texas High School America Title.

“I thought I wasn’t going to win,” Haylee said about her most recent win. “There were a whole bunch of amazing girls competing. I was just really in shock at the moment.” 

Throughout her time in pageantry, Haylee has learned many lessons that she hopes to share with other young girls.

“Never stop going,” she said. “It took me a couple of times. I haven’t won them all. I’ve been first runner-up, top 15, and I have not placed. Keep on counting to keep bettering yourself because that’s what it’s all about. Just make sure you do whatever you want to do.” 

In the next five years, Haylee sees herself graduating from Texas A&M University with a degree in business and would like to go into real estate. She also hopes to compete for the title of Miss Texas USA.