Miss USA 2018: Miss Mississippi Laine Mansour on her dreams of being a legal eagle, and the art of time management

By Vidisha Joshi · 06:55 PST, 8 May 2018

Always the one for extra-curricular activities, Mansour tells Meaww she studied piano, voice, violin & all types of dance, including ballet, tap, hip-hop, and lyrical dance

Miss USA 2018 is just around the corner, and all the contestants from all the different parts of the country couldn't be more excited about it. We caught up with Miss Mississippi 2018 Laine Mansour, and she spoke to Meaww about the dream pageant, her journey to it, and much more.

Always the one for extra-curricular activities, Mansour has studied piano, voice, violin & all types of dance, including ballet, tap, hip-hop, and lyrical dance.

For all those who might not know her, Laine Alden Mansour is a 21-year-old student at the University of Mississippi where she is a member of Kappa Delta Sorority and serves on the Public Relations Committee.

Always the one for extra-curricular activities, Mansour has studied piano, voice, violin & all types of dance, including ballet, tap, hip-hop, and lyrical dance. She also enjoys photography and has served as a wedding photographer for the past two years.

Her future plans include becoming an attorney, a policy maker and an advocate for American children’s rights & further her inspirational public speaking, appearances and writings.

Here is her exclusive interview with Meaww about her upcoming plans for the future, keeping the upcoming beauty pageant in mind.

Could you tell us a little bit about your journey to Miss USA 2018?
My journey to Miss USA 2018 has been nothing short of a dream come true. New faces, places, and experiences and SO much excitement for what is yet to come!

What led you to the field of modeling and pageantry?
I was actually a very shy child. I didn’t even want to raise my hand to say “here!” In the classroom! My aunt was Miss Mississippi and knew that pageant would help me break my shell. And that they have! I would not trade my modeling and pageant experiences for the world. Pageants offer young women the chance to grow, dedicate themselves to causes and platforms close to their heart, and meet wonderful people & friends along the way!

How does the pageant fit in with your future plans of becoming an attorney?
Growing up my parents always asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up....I always responded...”Miss USA & a lawyer!” They had no idea how I even knew what a lawyer was! But many years down the road those dreams are still in my heart. The reason I aspire to be a lawyer and the reason I aspire to be Miss USA go hand in hand. To be a VOICE for those that don’t have one. I want to instill faith and hope into the people of this great nation.

She performed the Russian solo in the touring Russian Nutcracker and she also cheered for the award-winning Tupelo Golden Wave for 5 years.

If you were to win the competition, what changes would you use your influence to bring in the field of pageantry in general and Miss USA in particular?
I have a true heart for service & helping others so if I were to win Miss USA that would be at the forefront of my reign. I believe the current Miss USA has done a great job at this and I hope to build upon this great Miss USA legacy.

What rounds in the competition are you most excited about? Which ones do you have the highest hopes for?
I have to be honest I LOVEEE interview. It’s the room and place I can share my heart and inner beauty which I feel is what makes a true Miss USA, her heart, and passions. I’m also extremely excited for evening gown...my gown is a dream come true!

Laine Alden is the daughter of Beverly Beasley Mansour and Dr. Samuel Mansour. She has 3 siblings - two brothers, Blake & Bond and a sister, Ann Sterling who all reside in Tupelo, MS.

Could you walk us through the training process to become a pageant girl? Especially in a high-stakes competition like Miss USA?
The training process can certainly be intense. But what I love about this is that it pushes you in every aspect to be the Best woman you possibly can be. Whether that be physically, mentally, or emotionally. I’m confident there is no other experience in the world that offers this type of unique growth.

You are an outspoken advocate for empowering children. Could you tell us a little bit about your activism and what your goals with regards to this in the future?
Children and empowering children holds a strong part of my heart. This is why I started a program called GEM which stands for Going the Extra Mile, five years ago. My program is dedicated to instilling confidence, faith, and important life skills that will help my students Go the Extra Mile in all areas of their life.

How does the GEM as a program generally function?
I have several lessons that I teach. These vary from etiquette, goal setting and achieving skills, to realizing your worth and reaching new heights, whether that be in school, physical health, or in a professional setting. I teach how important it is to not let your circumstances affect your outcome and to ALWAYS “Go the Extra Mile!”

Four years ago, Laine Alden founded a program “GEM” - Going the Extra Mile, which she often includes in her motivational speaking engagements.

How do you manage to divide your time between your academic pursuits and modeling career?
Time management, time management, time management....and all power to it!! I’m luckily a morning person so I try to knock out school work in the AM. It’s difficult at times but I love the hustle.

Have you made friends with any of your competitors in Miss USA? Who do you think will be some of your biggest competitions? Who are you excited to meet?
I have made so many friends! The class of 2018 is incredibly, incredibly sweet and I am so excited to share this with them. As far as my biggest competitors go...I’m a firm believer that I am my only competition. I was always taught that comparison is the theft of all joy so I try my best to not compare or contrast between the other contestants. This to me is what true grace & beauty is...being able to look to your left and right and know that your worth and beauty does not change!

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