Northside students hear Cantrell's story

As Betty Cantrell walked down the aisle at Northside High School, excited students started whispering.

"There she is," said one and "she cut her hair," were heard above Miss America's theme song.

Her hair was a topic of the question and answer session as well.

Cantrell said she did have to ask permission from five people before she got the chop. She's always wanted to try short hair and thought now was the time to do something about it. She donated her hair to Locks of Love.

A benefit to the new look is now it takes her an hour less to get ready with her shorter do.

Even the administrators took pictures and selfies with the local star.

"These are band, chorus, performing arts and some humanities students," said Northside Principal Greg Peavy.

It wasn't Peavy's idea to ask Miss America to come and speak. That came from Northside's drama teacher Brian Barnett.

Cantrell's parents were in the audience and her mother, Tassie Cantrell, recorded video of the entire event.

When she started talking about the celebrities she has met, the squeals started.

During the Miss America pageant, she said one of the best parts of the night before she was crowned was backstage.

"I'm hanging out with Nick Jonas in my swimsuit," Cantrell said to the crowd gathered at Ray Horne Theatre to hear her speak.

She said her favorite moment so far while being Miss America was attending the Country Music Association Awards show.

As a lifelong country music fan, being able to meet some of country music's biggest stars was a thrill.

An aspiring Broadway performer since she was 3 years old, Cantrell had advice about naysayers who told her being a singer was a pipe dream.

"It's really, really important not to listen to those people," she said.

Cantrell urged those who have dreams similar to her own to make the most out of opportunities given to them.

She said her favorite musicals are "Wicked" and "Les Miserables."

After the Q&A session, Cantrell took pictures with the group and posed for selfies.

The constant pull for her attention and time can sometimes get to the girl who only started competing in pageants at age 19 to get scholarship money. That is when, she said, she calls on former Miss Americas for comfort.

Cantrell said she has spoken to Kira Kazantsev, last year's winner, many times.

During those times, Cantrell said she remembers the advice Kazantsev gave to her to "remember why you are doing it."

After tripping twice in her evening gown and answering the question about Deflategate, which she hadn't prepared for, Cantrell said she nearly ran off stage and started crying.

"I was really embarrassed," she said.

Despite her fumbles during the competition, she was chosen to be Miss America.

That was a lesson she hoped to give to everyone who has messed up and thinks their shot is over.

"You can still be the best after being the worst. Being me is absolutely good enough," Cantrell said.

Cantrell, is, after all, still human.

She hopes, during her year-long reign as Miss America, that she will be able to break the stereotypical pageant queen mold by sharing her story.

"I want to be a good person with the crown on and with the crown off," she said.

This story was originally published January 26, 2016 at 10:19 AM.