After a night of pageant competition, Katie MacAllister, senior from Murray, was crowned Miss Black and Gold at the Miss Black and Gold pageant held by Alpha Phi Alpha Friday evening.

For MacAllister, the decision to participate in the pageant was to challenge herself.

“I wanted to jump outside of my box,” she said. “Growing up, I was a tomboy. I loved playing basketball, and loved wearing sweatpants and big shirts so I just wanted to try something new to push myself.”

As part of her talent routine in the pageant, MacAllister recited an original poem.

“For my talent, I wanted to do something different,” MacAllister said. “I just wanted the crowd to feel me for me.”

After spending weeks with her fellow Miss Black and Gold contestants, some she knew before the pageant practices commenced and some who were strangers, MacAllister felt closer to the ladies.

“The most rewarding experience (from the pageant) would have to be hanging out with the girls,” she said. “They are all very special to me.”

In addition to making new friends, the experience was equally rewarding when MacAllister was announced the ­Miss Black and Gold 2012 winner.

“I was really surprised, to be honest,” she said. “I thought I did well, but I didn’t think I was at the very top!”

Although this is the first pageant in which MacAllister has participated, it won’t be her last. As Miss Black and Gold 2012 for Murray State Alpha Phi Alpha, she will proceed to the State Miss Black and Gold pageant in February held at the University of Kentucky.

In addition, MacAllister will have to put on two programs or activities for the community in order to receive the $500 scholarship. MacAllister said she would like to organize one program to inform the community of domestic violence. The second program she would like to do is about the college life and keeping it stress free.

As Miss Black and Gold, MacAllister is held to high standards. She is also a role model for the community.

“I feel like I can hold that up to par,” MacAllister said. “I think I can be a woman that people look up to.”

Being that role model means addressing the concerns that women face today. MacAllister explained her views on the struggles of women everywhere.

“The biggest challenge women face is having people take you seriously,” she said. “Sometimes women get overlooked based on the way they look or talk. I think my self-confidence (will help address these concerns). I don’t let things bring me down, and I believe that is something people can look to.”

MacAllister is an occupational safety and health major. She is currently the secretary and vice president of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, the secretary for the American Society of Safety Engineers and the treasurer of the National Pan Hellenic Council.

Q and A with Miss Black and Gold 2012:

Q: What do you do for fun?

A: I love to hang out with my friends and sorority sisters. I love listening to my music, it keeps me level headed.

Q: What’s your favorite TV series and movie?

A: My favorite TV series would be Law and Order SVU and my favorite movie is probably the Transformers movies.

Q: What’s a pet peeve of yours?

A: I must say that I don’t like people who are rude, that walk around like they can’t smile at anyone.

Q: What are your career goals?

A: I want to be a safety manager of a big company one day.

Q: What has been your favorite experience at Murray so far?

A: My favorite experience would probably have to be stepping in the Homecoming Step show (both this year and the last), they are pretty extreme.

Q: Who is your role model?

A: My role model would have to be my mother. She is the epitome of a genuine person who looks for the greatness in people and will also go to the end of the world and back for what she believes.

Story by Hunter Harrell, Staff writer.