Kyla Brunk posing on stage for the state pageant. | Photo courtesy of Kyla Brunk

Alyssa Still 
Staff Writer

Kyla Brunk, a junior from Vero Beach, Florida, recently competed in the National American Miss Florida State Pageant in Orlando. After a pageant she signed up for in high school was canceled, she was anonymously recommended to compete in a National American Miss state pageant. 

National American Miss is a nationwide pageant system with state and regional pageants that allow winners and runner-ups to qualify for the national competition in November. They call themselves “America’s #1 pageant for girls and young women” and award over one million dollars through cash scholarships and prizes each year. National American Miss allows contestants ages 4-to-24 a chance to grow their confidence and learn real-world skills within their specified age category. 

Contestants are scored on communication skills during a personal introduction, poise and presentation during formal wear modeling, personality, communication, and confidence during an interview, and participation in a community service project completed before the pageant. These four required areas of competition culminate into a final score, runner-ups are awarded and the contestant with the highest score crowned. 

In the 2024 state pageant, Brunk won the Top Model Search, was awarded second runner-up in the actress competition, and received a Spirit of Pageantry award. She also made the top 20 out of 600 women, and placed fourth runner-up, making her part of the queen’s court for Miss North Florida. This means that she is eligible and headed to compete at the National American Miss Nationals this November. 

Currently, Brunk is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts as a Technical Theatre major with a focus in Lighting Design, and a minor in business administration.

With her newfound confidence, she plans on pursuing an electrical engineering degree after her time at FSC concludes. 

“I am proud of the person I currently am and on the road to becoming. I am willing to chase my dreams because I know I am more than capable of doing so,” Brunk said. 

Through pageantry, Brunk has spoken  out on her journey as someone facing a physical disability. 

“Pageants are 20% pretty dresses, and 80% public speaking, therefore giving optimal chances to tell your story,” Brunk said. 

Her personal story is still in the making, but she has already begun to break barriers.

“Few people understand how disability can look different from what most media has set as the standard for representation. Because my scars are mostly hidden, I really do look like any average young college girl,” Brunk said. 

After years of hiding her medical equipment and mobility devices in photos, she began fighting stereotypes in 2021, through social media. 

“The treatment I receive from others has changed, not all of it being negative, but rather a lot of confusion. I want people to not be afraid to ask me questions. What is more harmful is when those questions are asked behind my back. Chances are there is a really simple answer behind it,” Brunk said. 

Though her disability sometimes presents challenges, she’s determined to pursue everything she sets her mind to. She shares that while life hasn’t turned out exactly as she imagined, she’s learned to adapt and believes that the world around her can adapt, too. 

Having already surpassed expectations related to her diagnosis, she’s motivated to keep defying what others might think is possible for someone in her position. She believes there’s plenty of room for her and for everyone regardless of ability.

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