Meg McGuffin

Meg McGuffin
Beauty pageant titleholder
Born Meghan Catherine McGuffin
(1993-02-01) February 1, 1993
Chicago, Illinois
Education Auburn University
Hair color Blonde
Title(s) Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen 2007
Teen Miss Pike County Forestry 2008
Miss Auburn University 2014
Miss Phenix City 2015
Miss Alabama 2015[1]
Major
competition(s)		 Miss America 2016

Meghan Catherine "Meg" McGuffin (born February 1, 1993) is an American beauty pageant titleholder from Ozark, Alabama, who was crowned Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen 2007 and Miss Alabama 2015. She competed for the Miss America 2016 title in September 2015 and was named fourth runner-up.

Pageant career

Early titles

McGuffin began successfully competing in pageants at an early age, entering her first pageant at age 6.[2][3] She held the title of Little Miss Clayhatchee until forced to relinquish it in October 2000 after being named the 2000 Little Miss National Peanut Festival, winning a color television, a Huffy bicycle, several Beanie Babies, scholarships, and other prizes.[4][5]

In March 2007, McGuffin was chosen as Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen 2007.[2][6] She competed for the Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2008 title, losing to Caitlin Brunell of Virginia.[7] (Brunell would go on to win the Miss Alabama title in 2014.)[8][9][10] In April 2008, McGuffin was named Teen Miss Pike County Forestry 2008 and competed for the Miss Alabama Forestry title and scholarship.[11] In July 2012, McGuffin was second runner-up for the Miss Hoover 2013 title.[12][13]

On January 25, 2014, McGuffin was crowned Miss Auburn University 2014 and eligible to compete in the statewide 2014 Miss Alabama tournament.[2] This was McGuffin's third attempt at the Miss Auburn University title having placed as second runner-up in 2013.[14] Her "Healthy is the New Skinny" platform promoted healthy body images for women. McGuffin did not place among the 10 semi-finalists for the 2014 title.[9]

Miss Alabama 2015

McGuffin was crowned Miss Phenix City 2015 which made her eligible to compete at the 2015 Miss Alabama pageant.[15][16] As part of the pageant's commitment to service in the community, each contestant raised money for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals by working on a coordinated group service project on April 18, 2015.[17][18] On June 1, the contestants gathered at Dreamland Bar-B-Que in Birmingham to write thank you cards for American troops serving overseas. In addition, McGuffin and seven others participated in a hands-free pork rib eating contest.[19][20]

One of 50 contestants in the state competition, McGuffin spent three days in preliminary judging rounds and was named as one of 12 semi-finalists.[21] After an on-stage evening on talent, swimsuit, and evening wear competitions, McGuffin was named one of 5 finalists for the crown. Each of the finalists answered questions from the judges before they began ranking the entrants and selecting a winner.[22] McGuffin won the state competition on Saturday, June 7, 2015, when she received her crown from outgoing Miss Alabama titleholder Caitlin Brunell.[3]

An Egg McMuffin, origin of McGuffin's childhood nickname

As the reigning Miss Alabama, McGuffin's duties include speaking to students and community groups, visiting patients at Children's of Alabama in Birmingham,[23] and participating in the Miss Alabama Fashion Show and Luncheon in Vestavia Hills.[24]

Vying for Miss America

McGuffin served as Alabama's representative at the Miss America 2016 pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in September 2015.[25][26] In the televised finale on September 13, 2015, she performed a contemporary dance en pointe to "Clubbed to Death" from the soundtrack to The Matrix during the talent portion of the competition.[27] In the interview portion, she was asked why Donald Trump was so popular as a political figure. McGuffin answered that he is an "entertainer" and that the GOP should be "absolutely terrified" that he was crowding out more qualified candidates.[28] Her personal platform is "Healthy is the New Skinny - Promoting Positive Body Image".[27] She was named fourth runner-up to Betty Cantrell and awarded a $10,000 scholarship prize.[29][30] She was also recognized as one of only 2 state representatives to have earned the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Medal for community service, and was awarded 2nd runner up for the Miss America Quality of Life community service award which earned her an additional $2000 cash scholarship.

Personal life and education

McGuffin was raised in Ozark, Alabama, and graduated Salutatorian of her class from Carroll High School in 2011.[26] Her childhood nickname was "Egg McMuffin".[10] Her custom Alabama license plate reads "EGMCMFN".[31] McGuffin earned a bachelor's degree from Auburn University in Media Studies/Political Science and was pursuing a master's degree in administration of higher education at Auburn when she was crowned Miss Alabama.[32][33][16][7] While at Auburn, McGuffin became a member of the Phi Mu female fraternal organization.[34]

References

  1. ↑ "Miss Alabama History". Miss Alabama. Retrieved June 7, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Roadman, Chelsea (February 28, 2014). "Meg McGuffin Crowned Miss Auburn University". The Corner News (Auburn, AL: Media General). Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Cook, Jim (June 12, 2015). "Meet Miss Alabama, Ozark native Meg McGuffin". Dothan Eagle (Dothan, AL: BH Media). Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Little Miss National Peanut Queens" (PDF). Dothan, AL: National Peanut Festival. 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  5. ↑ Gilbert, Sarah (October 31, 2000). "Clayhatchee queen captures National Peanut Festival title; new Little Miss Clayhatchee crowned". The Southeast Sun (Enterprise, AL: QST Publications). Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  6. ↑ Moore, Tamika (March 12, 2015). "Highlights of the 2015 Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen Pageant". The Huntsville Times (Huntsville, AL: Advance Publications). Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Auburn University grad Meg McGuffin crowned Miss Alabama". The Tuscaloosa News (Tuscaloosa, AL: GateHouse Media). Associated Press. June 7, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  8. ↑ Gilfillian, Trudi (July 8, 2014). "Miss Alabama Caitlin Brunell". The Press of Atlantic City (Atlantic City, New Jersey: BH Media Group). Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  9. 1 2 Watkins, Mia (June 7, 2014). "Caitlin Brunell, a University of Alabama graduate, is new Miss Alabama". AL.com. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  10. 1 2 Watkins, Mia (June 10, 2015). "Who is Miss Alabama 2015? 8 things to know about Meg McGuffin". The Huntsville Times (Huntsville, AL: Advance Publications). Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  11. ↑ "2008 Queens". Enterprise, AL: Miss Pike County Forestry Pageant. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  12. ↑ Drexel, Keysha (July 12, 2012). "Reign begins for newest Miss Hoover". Birmingham News (Birmingham, AL: Advance Publications). Retrieved June 10, 2011.
  13. ↑ "2013 Event Photos". Hoover, AL: Miss Hoover Pageant. July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  14. ↑ Yerant, Maddie (January 25, 2014). "Meg McGuffin crowned Miss Auburn University 2014". The Auburn Plainsman (Auburn, AL: Auburn University). Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  15. ↑ "2015 Miss Phenix City". Miss Phenix City Scholarship Pageant. Archived from the original on June 8, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  16. 1 2 Pederson, Stephanie (June 7, 2015). "Miss Phenix City earns crown as Miss Alabama". Ledger-Enquirer (Columbus, GA: McClatchy). Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  17. ↑ Moore, Tamika (April 17, 2015). "Help Miss Alabama hopefuls serve 3 Alabama communities during "Miss America Serves"". The Huntsville Times (Huntsville, AL: Advance Publications). Retrieved June 10, 2011.
  18. ↑ Doyle, Steve (April 18, 2015). "Miss Alabama contestants get messy for a good cause in Decatur". The Huntsville Times (Huntsville, AL: Advance Publications). Retrieved June 10, 2011.
  19. ↑ Posey, Sebastian (June 6, 2015). "Around Town: Miss Alabama contestants’ rib eating contest". Birmingham, AL: WIAT-TV. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  20. ↑ Moore, Tamika (June 2, 2015). "Watch Miss Alabama 2015 contestants compete in annual Dreamland bbq rib eating contest". The Huntsville Times (Huntsville, AL: Advance Publications). Retrieved June 10, 2011.
  21. ↑ Watkins, Mia (June 6, 2015). "Miss Alabama 2015 finale: top 12 semi-finalists named". The Huntsville Times (Huntsville, AL: Advance Publications). Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  22. ↑ Watkins, Mia (June 6, 2015). "Miss Alabama 2015 top 5 moves on to the final phase of the competition". The Huntsville Times (Huntsville, AL: Advance Publications). Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  23. ↑ Watkins, Mia (June 2, 2015). "Children's of Alabama: Miss Alabama 2015 contestants commitment to service is 'second to none'". The Huntsville Times (Huntsville, AL: Advance Publications). Retrieved June 10, 2011.
  24. ↑ Watkins, Mia (June 1, 2015). "Miss Alabama style can mean designer dominance and viral fame for winner". The Huntsville Times (Huntsville, AL: Advance Publications). Retrieved June 10, 2011.
  25. ↑ Watkins, Mia (June 6, 2015). "Auburn grad student Meg McGuffin crowned Miss Alabama 2015". The Huntsville Times (Huntsville, AL: Advance Publications). Retrieved June 7, 2015.
  26. 1 2 "Ozark Native Meg McGuffin Crowned Miss Alabama 2015". Dothan, AL: WTVY-TV. June 8, 2015. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  27. 1 2 "The 2016 Miss America Competition Scholarships & Awards" (Press release). Miss America. September 16, 2015. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  28. ↑ "Miss Alabama on Donald Trump: Republicans should be 'absolutely terrified'". The Huntsville Times (Huntsville, AL: Advance Publications). September 13, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Miss America Show Scholarships 2016". Miss America. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  30. ↑ Davis, Ebony (September 13, 2015). "Miss Alabama, Ozark native, fourth runner-up in 2016 Miss America pageant". Dothan Eagle (Dothan, AL: BH Media). Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  31. ↑ "Auburn grad student and new Miss Alabama Egg McMuffin, I mean Meg McGuffin has sense of humor about her McDonald’s menu item-ish name". The War Eagle Reader (Auburn, AL). June 8, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2015.
  32. ↑ Wallace, Ben (June 4, 2015). "Auburn students compete for Miss Alabama title". The Auburn Plainsman (Auburn, AL). Retrieved June 11, 2015.
  33. ↑ "Miss Alabama 2015: Auburn graduate Meg McGuffin takes home crown". Birmingham, AL: WBMA-LD. June 6, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2015.
  34. ↑ Becque, Fran. "Sorority Women on the Road to Miss America 2016 (2015 State Winners)". Focus on Fraternity History. Retrieved June 10, 2015.

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Caitlin Brunell		 Miss Alabama
2015 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Abby Lynn Steverson		 Miss Alabama's Outstanding Teen
2007 		Succeeded by
Haley Ates
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