Erica Sturdefant Miss Missouri USA heads to Baton Rouge to vy for Miss USA Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photos by Lance Tilford
Erica Sturdefant
W
you are.” Apparently who Erica is works. She was crowned Miss Missouri Teen USA in 2012. A competitive basketball player and the daughter of landscaper Danny Sturdefant and She said she was always interested in modeling and pageants but waited until her office worker Rachel Sturdefant, Erica said senior year of high school to take the plunge. her story is evidence that any little girl can It was a secretary at her middle school, grow up to wear a crown. “I grew up with Susan Fielder, who encouraged her to look a family that didn’t have a lot of money,” into the pageant system. she said. “I played competitive sports and worked full time through college. I Erica graduated in December with a made honor roll grades. But I have definitely never lacked in emotional support. I bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Lindenwood University. Now that the Miss remember I cried because other kids didn’t have to work and could go do things when I USA pageant is over, Erica can begin deciding what she wants to do for a career. was in school. But it’s made me a stronger She enjoys Pinterest projects like cooking, person. As hard as it has been, I wouldn’t Sturdefant was crowned Miss baking and crafts; the outdoors; and change a thing.” Missouri USA 2014 on November 9, watching documentaries. Erica said her 2013, at The J. Scheidegger Center for Erica said at first she was intimidated by the favorite hobby is thrift shopping. She is the Arts at Lindenwood University in involved with CASA (Court Appointed girls who wore custom made dresses and St. Charles. Sturdefant held her own amidst a field of 42 young women from jewelry, but she learned quickly that wasn’t Special Advocate), Elderly Helpers, Girls on the Run, and Warriors for Ross. across the State of Missouri, competing what the pageant was about. “They would be spitting out designer names I had never in swimsuit, evening gown, and even heard of. But I realized you’re not During her year as Miss Missouri USA, interview competitions. Sturdeselling shoes. It just goes to show it doesn’t Erica hopes to inspire at-risk populations to fant went on to compete on June 8 matter. You are trying to shine through who establish goals and break stereotypes. ¤ in the Miss USA pageant in Baton hen asked what her favorite part of being crowned Miss Missouri USA was, Erica Sturdefant didn’t say the attention, or the star-status or even the near-full scholarship to Lindenwood University. The 21-year-old collegeeducated beauty said it was fitting hundreds of young girls of military parents for their prom dresses in New York at “Operation That’s My Dress,” and visiting sick kids at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in her hometown of Springfield, Missouri.
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Rouge, Louisiana.