As a 16-year-old junior at The Colony High School, the new Miss Southlake Outstanding Teen has proven she has a true passion for the pageant world. Laurel Jones has won three Miss Outstanding Teen titles — including Miss McKinney Outstanding Teen and Miss Park Cities Outstanding Teen — and shared her story along the way, even when it hasn’t been positive.
As a child, Laurel struggled with her self-image and even hid suicidal thoughts from her parents and friends. But after she came forward and got the help she needed, Laurel learned how to use her experience to help others. That’s why she decided to focus on suicide prevention and awareness through her social impact initiative, Behind the S.A.S.H.
I FIRST GOT INVOLVED IN THE MISS AMERICA ORGANIZATION... when I joined the Lone Star Princess program at 7 years old. It’s a program where little girls ages 5 to 12 get their own crown and sash and are mentored by a Miss or Miss Outstanding Teen. You go to appearances with them and go on stage for evening gown portions. One of my family friends was competing as a teen at the time. She had to have a Lone Star Princess, and she asked me to be hers.
I WASN’T REALLY... expecting anything in my first competition. I just kind of went in with an open mind wanting to see what this was about. Every year I’ve just grown more and more. Whenever I’m on stage, it’s one of the best moments of my life. It’s something I really love, and I never want it to end.
I WAS SO SURPRISED AND HONORED... when they announced me as the new Miss Southlake’s Outstanding Teen. The next morning I got to sleep in, and once I woke up, I realized that it wasn't all a dream and I really was Miss Southlake’s Outstanding Teen. I’m really excited to make appearances throughout the city and share my message of Behind the S.A.S.H.
THE ACRONYM BEHIND THE S.A.S.H.... has a double-meaning. The first part is: Suicidal thoughts, Anxiety and Self-Harm. The second part is: Speak out, find an Active support system, Share your talent and passions and Help everyone. For me, competing in Miss America pageants was one of the biggest things that really helped me. I was able to put all the pressure I was feeling into a positive outlet instead of turning to cutting and self-harm as a negative outlet. Behind the S.A.S.H was about bringing it back full circle and helping everyone.
THE MOST HEARTBREAKING STORY I’VE EVER HEARD... came from a parent who recently lost her child to suicide. After I shared my story and opened up the day for an art auction, this mom came up to me and she started crying. She was talking about how her child had just committed suicide and how my words touched her. The fact that I was able to be there for her and kind of help her toward a sense of closure was just a wholesome feeling.
EVERYONE THINKS... that it’s something that you need to hide behind — that you cannot talk to anyone about it. That stigma needs to be broken because so many people are struggling in silence and are not getting the help they deserve and need. They’re not just upset. You have an illness, and you need to get the help to fix it, just like if you had cancer or another type of disease.
MY FRIEND FIRST HARMED HERSELF... in sixth grade. When she told me, I was like ‘Why on earth would you do that? That’s so dumb. You’re just hurting yourself.’ But you really don’t understand it until you’re in that situation.
LESS THAN A YEAR LATER... I was in her same position. I was really down on myself. I really felt like I had no one there for me. I felt like if I was out of this world, it would be better for everyone else. So I turned to self-harm. For me, it was the release of all of the pressure and pain that I felt. My friend was the one who ended up turning me into the school counselor.
I WAS... really upset at her at the time. I thought she had betrayed our entire friendship. I was like ‘How could you do this to me?’ But now I am so grateful that she did that because my family and I were able to work together to get me the help I needed.
I WILL DEFINITELY CONTINUE WITH MY SOCIAL IMPACT INITIATIVE... regardless of whether I go straight into the Miss America organization or not. You don’t have to have the crown and the sash to be able to do that. I don’t need to be Miss Southlake Outstanding Teen to be able to help. I can simply be Laurel Jones and do just as much.