After winning the 2016 pageant, the new Miss Louisiana Justine Ker prepares for a busy year ahead as she settles into her new role.
"It's been a whirlwind. We have hit the ground running, and this past week has just been incredible," says Ker
Ker, a native of Choudrant, has her work cut out for her. In addition to scheduling the next year, and preparing for the upcoming Miss America Pageant, Ker also intends to visit all five of the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals in Louisiana.
The affiliation with the Children's Network Hospitals is a natural fit for Ker, who plans to attend medical school at Tulane University after her reign as Miss Louisiana comes to an end.
Ker says being part of the Miss Louisiana system has helped to shape her self esteem and intstilled a sense of personal motivation, which stayed with her throughout the pageant process.
Ker explains, "I was really considering the fact that 'I'm not competing against these others girls; I'm competing against myself,' and that is how I went into this competition."
Ker also notes how competing has helped her pay for her education saying, "It's not just a pageant, its a scholarship program."
Ker alone has won over $24,000 in scholarships by participating in the pageant the past two years, and the parent organization, Miss America is among the largest scholarship organizations for young women in the world.
For more information about the Miss Louisiana Organization, visit its website.
