A Kansas City woman made history becoming the first African American Miss Missouri USA. Bayleigh Dayton has been making several stops since she was crowned, but one of her most recent ones was extra special.
Dayton spent a morning at her father's school, Kipp Endeavor Academy, in the heart of Kansas City.
"This school is right in the middle of the community in the inner city," said Dayton. "I like that they get to experience this with me."
Dayton, a Baylor University grad, brought her message of hard work to the students of Kipp.
"When you put in so much hard work for something and then it actually comes true, you're like 'Oh my gosh! Is this for real?'" she said. "I'm still in shock that this is even happening to me, but I'm thrilled my hard work paid off."
She spoke to dozens of young ladies about what it takes to achieve your dreams and the importance of knowing your self worth.
"I need you to know that you are worth more than any situation that is getting you down right now," she said to a room full of students. "I need you to see the bigger picture with your life and I need you to constantly make choices right now that will help you later in life."
Her father, Michael Dayton, is the outreach director at the school.
"They see she's worked hard for something, that she's somebody to be looked up to and then really loved on her," he said. "It's a beautiful 'give back' for her to come back and love on our kids."
Bayleigh Dayton told the girls about her ups and downs in life and the people who were there to push her to be better.
"I want them to think about the big picture," she said. "I know you might not be where you want to be, but keep working, keep trying hard and you'll get there. I just want to be the positive change I needed when I was growing up."
Dayton wore a special sash to the school representing "Warriors for Ross."
"It's pediatric cancer month and one of our directors started our foundation because she lost her grandson to a rare form of cancer," she said. "We wear the sash in honor of him. His name was Ross."
To learn more about the charity, click here.
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Jade DeGood can be reached at Jade.DeGood@KSHB.com.
