Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Ward more than just a pretty face

At this time, Jessie Ward, Miss Arkansas, is winging her way to Atlantic City, New Jersey where she will compete for the title of Miss America.

Her pageant career has been well documented, starting with her first win as a sophomore in high school. Some of her titles include: Miss Prescott High School, Miss Nevada County Fair Queen, Miss Southwest District Fair Queen, Miss Southwest Arkansas, Miss Texarkana and now, Miss Arkansas.

But who, exactly, is she, aside from being a beauty queen?

First and foremost, she's a down-to-earth young woman who, after her reign is over, will be returning to college as a senior majoring in Biology and Communications. Her future plans are to be a medical correspondent, along the lines of Dr. Nancy Sniderman.

Ward is also a down-home girl who enjoys living life on her terms. When asked what she likes to do, before the question was complete, Ward said, "fishing."

While she prefers bass fishing, she won't turn down a chance to toss her line in the water in search of catfish  and, she baits her own hooks when catfishing. Lures are used in the hunt for bass.

Ward, her father, Ned, and State Rep. Sandra Rodgers teamed up in the recent Watermelon Festival Fishing Tournament on Millwood Lake.

During the eight-hour tourney, Rodgers and Ward's father caught nothing they could weigh in. Ward slept for three-and-a-half hours in the boat. However, when she woke up, she landed the only fish weighed in by the team.

Along with this, Ward won a trolling motor in a drawing held at the tourney.

However, she also enjoys a challenge. "If it isn't difficult," Ward said, "I wouldn't want to do it."

Hence the combined career in medicine and broadcasting. But, medicine wasn't her original choice in a career, biology was.

"I knew I was meant for something in biology," she said. "But my talent lies in public speaking and radio/TV production. This is why I chose medical correspondent as a career."

Additionally, she said, medicine offers a great deal of flexibility and the chance to work with people, having a direct effect on their lives.

Pageants are also difficult. Ask anyone who's seriously competed in them, whether they won or lost.

Preparing for a pageant is no easier than an athlete getting ready for their season. The contestants must stay in top physical condition, watching their weight year round.

They also have to determine what their best talent is and hone these skills, along with rehearsing for the pageant itself.

For many, the hardest part of any pageant is the interview portion, a segment Ward won in the Miss Arkansas Pageant.

Ward trains like an athlete as well, lifting weights and running to stay in shape and fit into her wardrobe.

The hardest part, she said, is having to diet to keep the weight down, because she loves southern cooking. "Sometimes I cheat and have some fried chicken."

Since becoming Miss Arkansas, Ward has let little grass grow under her feet. In one day she was on the road for 10 = hours, driving from Hot Springs to Russellville, then to Rogers and back to Texarkana for an 8:45 a.m. appointment.

On Aug. 31, Ward was in Texarkana at the Princess Di exhibit, though her thoughts were at Cummins Field where her brother, Casey was playing football.

At the exhibit, she met Nigel Arch and Princess Di's personal chef.

Being a football fan, though, she'd have been just as excited watching the Curley Wolves beat Mineral Springs.

Her family will be making the trip to Atlantic City as well, and will take Razorback memorabilia to trade with families of the other contestants.