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Miss Missouri Stacey Smith of Florissant Competes for Miss USA
MISS MISSOURI STACEY SMITH is the third Miss Missouri from North County in the past six years. Shandi Finnessey of Florissant was crowned Miss USA in 2004.
By Jane Banaszek
Stacey Smith may be on her way to fame and fortune since being crowned Miss Missouri USA 2009. Stacey attended St. Dismas grade school, Incarnate Word High School, and graduated from Saint Louis University in 2008. She is headed to Las Vegas, Nevada to represent Missouri at the 2009 Miss USA Pageant, which will air on Sunday, April 19 on NBC.
Stacey’s parents, Brad and Julie Smith, and sister, Samantha, live in Florissant.
“This was my third time competing for Miss Missouri,” said Stacey. In her first attempt at the title she was named Third Runner-Up, followed by First Runner-Up the next year, before taking the crown in 2009.
She had some previous experience in the pageant arena when Stacey was named First Runner-Up on the 2003 Valley of Flowers court. Other than that experience, Stacey said she used to “watch Miss USA on television” but never thought about entering a pageant.
Stacey said she initially got involved in the Miss Missouri pageant by “Googling it.” She said that led to a phone interview, sending a photo, and personal interviews. It has been “a great experience and fun.”
In preparing for the upcoming competition in Las Vegas, Stacey said she has been very busy. She said she had no idea how much preparation was needed shopping, shipping clothes, shoes, clothing racks, and packing for Las Vegas. She said she manages to keep up with it all by using “time management and staying in focus.”
When not busy with Miss Missouri obligations, Stacey works full-time as an events sales director at Chaumette Vineyards & Winery. Most of her time is devoted to planning weddings and corporate events at the winery. Chaumette Vineyards & Winery is owned by Stacey’s aunt and uncle. They owned the land for many years, but started the winery in 1993, said Stacey. The winery is located in St. Genevieve.
“I like to set high goals for myself,” said Stacey. “No matter what your title is at your job, do as much as you can. It will pay off in the end.”
