A MISS Alabama beauty contest winner has lashed out at trolls who called her unhealthy.
Plus-sized model Sara Milliken, 23, won the title over the Memorial Day weekend but she was branded an embarrassment online.
She received a barrage of criticism from cruel trolls.
One hater claimed Milliken, who was competing for the third time in the event, was extremely unhealthy and an embarrassment to Alabama.
But she has since clapped back at her critics.
“’Even something that you type over a screen can have a lasting impression on people,” she told the CBS affiliate WKRG-TV.
“Even though I’m not at that point, it can lead people to do some very dark things to themselves.”
Milliken said that some of the abuse that was hurled her way was disgusting.
She admitted the hate got to her for around five minutes, but revealed she didn’t want to dwell on what haters posted.
In a social media post, she urged people to spread kindness.
Milliken said she’s blessed to be living out her dream.
She will now compete in the national finals that will take place in Orlando in November.
She revealed that winning the NAM Miss Alabama contest was a dream eight years in the making.
Milliken was stunned by her success as she admitted her goal was to come in the top 10.
“Just making it to [the] top 10 was my goal, ya know, I could leave the weekend saying I was better than I was the year before, and it’s all about bettering yourself for me,” she told WKRG.
In her Pageant Planet profile, Milliken revealed she wanted to be the first plus-sized NAM Miss Alabama.
“I plan to shatter glass ceilings in pageantry to create a path for other women to chase their dreams – no matter their shape or size,” she said.
Milliken admitted that when she was younger she competed in beauty contests just for the title and the glamor.
Even something that you type over a screen can have a lasting impression on people
Sara Milliken
She returned to beauty pageantry following a seven-year retirement.
Milliken paid tribute to her predecessor Alexandria Joseph, who scooped the 2023 NAM Miss Alabama gong.
She congratulated her on her reign and said: “I couldn’t have asked for a better person to place this crown on my head and I have so much love for her as well.”
Emily Zawodny, the NAM Miss Ohio, revealed that she cannot wait to see Milliken at the finals in Orlando.
“You have an amazing year ahead of you,” she said in a sweet social media post.
Milliken appears on the Girls Gotta Glow podcast and has won a President’s Service Award.
