Life + Style

Miss Mississppi USA 2014 Chelsea Reardon spent an afternoon with us at Eccentrics Boutique! She tried on some of her favorite outfits and we couldn't resist snapping a few pics! We also asked her a few questions to learn more about her!

Use 5 words to define yourself.

Definitely resilient, sensitive, driven, passionate and outspoken! 

What’s something you do every day that you love?

Something I do every day that I love-- Read the news!! I'm obsessed with politics and I love staying up to date with what's going on in the world.

Do you have any secret talents that most people do not know?

I love to write! I enjoyed writing short stories my whole life, and once I got in high school..I became the editor of my high school newspaper. Then I started writing as a guest columnist for my hometown newspaper in college. 

What’s your best kept beauty secret?

I put plain white toothpaste on a blemish to get rid of it quickly!

What is your favorite thing about Eccentrics?

I was so excited to see this fabulous boutique come to southern Illinois. I am originally from Murphysboro, but moved to Mississippi after graduating from SIU. There are a lot of boutiques down south, and I always thought how neat it would be for southern Illinois to have one, so I was so pumped to see it come to town! I love the atmosphere, the friendly staff and of course, the gorgeous clothes! 

What was the first pageant you entered? Did you win?

First pageant I entered- I started doing pageants as a little girl, and I got back in to them as a teenager. I found out about all the scholarship pageants in southern Illinois, and I entered them to help pay for school. I didn't win the first one I entered, but I knew I loved it and wanted to keep competing. I told my mom when I stepped off the stage of my first pageant that I belonged on the stage and I was going to Miss USA! Here I am...six years later and I accomplished my goal! 

What advice would you give for anyone wanting to compete in pageants?

DO IT! There's so much to gain from competing in pageants from confidence to networking to interview skills. I have loved every second of my journey in competing in pageants, and I would highly recommend young ladies getting involved in pageants.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I see myself starting a family, working in the entertainment industry in Nashville and staying active as a spokeswoman for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence as a sexual assault victim specialist.