Andrea Jameson
Contributing Writer
ajameson1@murraystate.edu

From Muhlenberg county, Murray’s 2021 Miss, Courtney Rager shares her pageant journey and what inspires her the most. 

Junior Courtney Rager went from Miss Pre-teen Muhlenberg County to being fourth runner-up for Miss Kentucky Teen USA. Next, she is planning to compete in the Kentucky USA pageant with her current 2021 title as Miss Murray USA. 

Rager began her pageant career when she was just 8 years old by participating in county fair pageants around Muhlenberg County. In her adolescent years, she fell in love with it, and she has competed in the county fair system since 2012. 

“When I went to Muhlenberg County to compete in the Miss Teen Pageant, I was the highest placing title holder to represent Muhlenberg County when I won second runner-up in the entire Kentucky state county fair,” Rager said.

Rager attended the Miss Kentucky’s Outstanding Teen for three years beginning with 2015. Rager knew there were higher expectations to be expected than at a county fair. MKYOT is a program that expects all attendees to share a talent, interview, and stand-up panel with six judges for eight minutes.

 With her winning title, Rager traveled to other counties to win a bid into attending the State County Fair Pageant such as when she was 14 years old, she won Miss Teen Jefferson County Fair. 

When she turned 16, Rager was eligible to compete with the Miss America System that was associated with the Miss Metro Louisville Outstanding Teen. 

Rager competed at Miss Kentucky Teen USA and placed in the top 5 as Miss Western Kentucky Teen USA. By competing well and placing high in many pageants, Rager will be competing next in the Miss Kentucky USA pageant. 

Alex Thompson is a pageant coach that gives advice to Rager for her competitions. Rager specifically remembered a quote from Thompson at the Jefferson County Pageant that was inspiring for her future. 

He told me, “I want you to know that you are so much bigger than you know you are going to do great things and I want to be there to help you and guide you,” Rager said. 

With many connections that are associated with pageants, Rager is able to enhance her social skills and make interpersonal relationships through competitions. 

“I’ve been enjoying pageants all of my life being that it’s given me a lot of interview qualities, a lot of friends and a lot of really eye-opening experiences that I wouldn’t have been able to have had without being in pageants,” Rager said. 

Rager is excited to compete in the upcoming Miss Kentucky USA pageant as she gets ready for her competition. 

“I never would have dreamed that 8-year-old me would have ever gone for the first triple crown winner in my home county,” Rager said. 

From the county fair system to competing statewide, Rager is happy to be making it to a bigger stage, and for the possible opportunities associated with it.