Eating Oxford
Oxford Stories Video: Ole Miss Pageant Winner Reveals Secret Holiday Family Recipe
Arkansas native and University of Mississippi junior Blair Wortsmith is a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority and was crowned the 2017 Ole Miss Most Beautiful at the Parade of Beauties pageant.
Although pageants have always been one of Blaire’s passions, she also loves to cook family recipes and reflect on wonderful holiday memories.
“My favorite part of the Christmas season is cooking me and Grandma’s famous chocolate chip cookies with a little holiday twist,” she said.
Wortsmith stays busy. She was recently crowned Miss Vicksburg and will compete there this summer for the title of Miss Mississippi. Last June, she competed in the Miss Mississippi pageant and won a Lifestyles in Fitness preliminary award. She was also named the non-finalist interview winner.
So what does it take to stay in tip-top shape?
“Physical fitness is always a top priority in a lifestyle,” she said. “Making good eating choices and exercising daily is my secret to a fit physique.”
Blair Wortsmith makes her famous Christmas cookie dough. Photo by Denver J. Haggard.
Time and dedication are important when staying physically fit and updated on current economic and social events that are part of the interview process and on-stage question portion of the Miss America organization.
Wortsmith’s talent is dancing. She has been a dancer since age 2.
“I love that it is a great way to exercise, challenge yourself, express creativity and meet new people,” she said.
Her dance routine for this pageant season is an upbeat tap dance to the song “Rather Be” by Pentatonix. However, a busy lifestyle and hobbies haven’t prevented this young woman from making her way home for the holidays.
Blair Wortsmith baking her Christmas cookies. Photo by Denver J. Haggard
During the busiest days of the holiday season you’ll find Wortsmith and her family active in the kitchen cooking her favorite holiday dish – Grandma’s Christmas Cookies. Tradition is important to Wortsmith.
“It’s not Christmas until me and Grandma make our cookies,” she said.
By Denver Haggard
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