McKenzie Fuller crowned Miss Jacksonville State University 2025
01/26/2025
McKenzie Fuller was crowned Miss Jacksonville State University 2025 on Friday night in Leone Cole Auditorium, fulfilling a lifelong dream and making history in the process.
Growing up, Fuller dreamed of becoming Miss JSU. By making that dream a reality, the Applied Chemistry major from Ohatchee, Alabama, also made history becoming the first woman of color to be crowned Miss JSU. “With this, not only am I aiming to make an impact in my community, but to instill the confidence in young girls and women that they too can break through barriers and be the representation in areas where it was once absent,” she said. “I want them to be the example if they don't see one.”
As Miss JSU, Fuller will represent Jacksonville State University and advocate for her fellow students. She also intends to be a community leader through her service initiative, Reading Rockets: Reading Literacy in Elementary Aged Students. “I am stressing the importance of reading literacy and comprehension as this is the building blocks to ensure a successful future,” said the Ohatchee native. “During the time of my reign, I will meet as many students as I can and instill in them the importance of education and utilizing their resources to their advantage.”
“The theme for the 42nd annual pageant was Stars Fell on Jax State, which aptly described the eight women who competed,” said Miss JSU Competition Director Abbie Beatty. “We had eight exceptional women competing for the title of Miss Jacksonville State University 2025. It was a tough competition, and I’m very proud of the hard work the students put into preparing and competing”
Additional honorees included first runner-up Ellington Jones, talent preliminary winner Lauren Kilgore, and Darby Angle Acts of Kindness Scholarship recipient Sara Poole.
In the week leading up to the pageant, Fuller found comfort in the words of John 14:27: ‘Be my comfort in my challenge, Lord.’ She repeated this phrase to herself in the final moments before crowning, reminding herself to embrace the experience and stay present in the moment. “I feel this allowed me to just let go and let God as I was trying to stay present in the moment, taking in everything happening around me and allowing myself to feel proud of an opportunity that I had just experienced.”
For her talent portion, Fuller used her experience as an applied chemistry major to demonstrate and explain a chemical reaction commonly known as elephants' toothpaste, which mimics what it might look like if an elephant brushed its teeth. She was inspired by Miss America 2019, Camille Schrier, who performed the same experiment. “I chose to do this because science is something I have always been passionate about,” Fuller said. “When I saw [Schrier], I knew that I could also showcase that science can be fun and a talent. My talent was something that you typically wouldn’t see at a preliminary competition, so I hope it was something that the audience enjoyed.”
The Miss JSU competition began in 1983, and as the Miss Alabama field directors often refer to it as “a very prestigious Miss Alabama preliminary,” Beatty said. “McKenzie shined in every phase of the competition and is an exceptional student. I know that she will do a wonderful job this year carrying on the legacy of Miss JSU.” As Miss JSU, Fuller will go on to represent Jax State at the Miss Alabama pageant in June.
The Miss America organization provides millions of dollars in scholarships each year at the local, state, and national levels. Many of the previous Miss JSU titleholders have been given the opportunity to further their education through this scholarship program.
As Miss JSU 2025, Fuller receives:
- A Jax State tuition scholarship for fall 2025 and spring 2026
- An Official crown box and sash courtesy of Jax State Panhellenic
- Four personal training sessions courtesy of University Recreation
- A Competition bouquet courtesy of the Dean of Students Office
- A $100 Red Threads gift card, and
- A $1,000 travel scholarship courtesy of Sheri Harbison.