The sparkling tiara of Miss America is within the reach of a Brighton High graduate who has dreamed of winning the title since she was a small girl watching the pageant on television.

Paris Matthews, a 2016 BHS graduate and the current Miss Utah, is doing her final preparations before leaving for Florida to vie for scholarships and the crown. When she crosses the stage in a glittering gown, it will be the realization of a vision she’s had in her head since she practiced her “pageant walk” in her living room as a 4-year-old child.

“At 4 years old, I was mimicking (what I saw on) the TV,” she says, “and I grew up competitively dancing and I did Miss Drill Utah. I just really loved the experience, and I started to think when I turned 19, I wanted to do pageants.”

The competition is Dec. 31-Jan. 5 in Orlando, and Matthews says she plans to take the lessons learned in CSD classrooms and while dancing with the BHS Accadians to the national contest.

Matthews credits Canyons teachers, coaches, and advisers with helping her develop the confidence she needed to pursue her dream of winning the state and, hopefully, the national title. She attended Ridgecrest Elementary and Butler Middle before becoming a Brighton High Bengal. Matthews also spent time as a substitute teacher for CSD.

“My fourth-grade teacher, Ms. Bunderson, is probably one of my biggest inspirations,” Matthews of her former Ridgecrest teacher, Pamela Bunderson, who has since retired.

“She really believed in me when I had little confidence in my academics and that is what really stuck with me for so long,” Matthews said. “Also being part of the drill team is what really, I think, cultivated in my dedication, my perseverance, my grit, my hard work and resilience.”

Matthews also lauds the influence of her drill coach, Chelsea Divine, who now leads Hillcrest’s team, the current 4A state champions. Divine continues to work with Matthews, even choreographing her drill performance for the talent portion of Miss Utah.

Episode Chapters

0:01 Miss Utah Paris Matthews

We introduce our guest show also shares how the last few months have felt as the reigning Miss Utah.

2:24 Miss America – A Professional Development Program

Matthews shares why she believes the Miss America Scholarship Program is a Professional Development Program — and how competing has helped her to grow as a person.

3:44 Empowering Child Life Specialist and Author

Not only is she Miss Utah and, hopefully, soon to be Miss America, but Matthews is a Child Life Specialist at Primary Children’s Hospital. She also tells us about the book she wrote to help children feel safe while in the hospital.

7:33 The Lasting Impact of Growing in Canyons School District

From fourth-grade teachers to drill coaches, Matthews shares how her time as a student in Canyons District helped teach her life-long lessons and develop friendships that continue to this day.

10:04 Overcoming Challenges to Achieve Dreams

It’s a lot of hard work competing for Miss Utah. We learn that Matthews tore a muscle right before the talent portion of the state competition and how her fellow contestants were the ones to help her overcome the injury.

11:55 The Road to Miss America

Matthews now has her eyes set on the Miss America competition in just a few short weeks. Learn how she’s preparing for the pageant.

13:16 Matthews’ Message to Canyons Students

From accepting failure to celebrating achievements, Matthews shares her message to Canyons students about following their dreams.