Allie Graves is more than a pretty face. The Texas High School incoming senior was recently named Miss Texas Outstanding Teen. She will have competed in the Miss America's Outstanding Teen pageant by the time this article goes to print.
Though she wears the crown well and is definitely beautiful, there's much more to the girl whose platform is "What Love Can Do: Raising awareness to help put an end to child abuse."
The cause is very close to Allie's heart. She is living proof of what love can do because she was once the victim of child abuse.
"The amazing thing about this is I was a child who was abused growing up. I'm able to tell my life story and call it a platform," she said.
Allie was born in Galveston, Texas, to a dysfunctional family who were not ready to raise a child. When she was 3 months old, they left her with April Graves, who would eventually become her mom and adopt her.
Then a judge with no understanding of her biological family's history of abuse awarded custody of Allie to her aunt and uncle when she was 18 months old.
"Basically my aunt, uncle and two cousins abused me. After four years of being abused and neglected, CPS (Child Protective Services) got involved. A family member, who came in and out of the house, came in on a situation and immediately called the police," Allie said. That phone call changed the course of her life for the better.
April had kept in touch with Allie after she was sent to live with her biological family. So when she was removed from the situation, the Graves family was right there waiting to open their home to her.
"I knew the Graves were my family. She (April) was always checking on me. She would leave me cards on my birthday. She even volunteered at my elementary school but she had no idea what I was going through. That family had no interest but in hurting me. It really was a cycle that I was a part of. I was another link in the chain, an abused and neglected child," Allie said.
Because Allie had been so severely abused, her caseworker didn't think the Graves family would be willing to take her back. But she was wrong.
They welcomed Allie back with open arms and nourished her scars with love. April made sure that Allie understood the abuse wasn't her fault. They didn't tuck the truth away somewhere and never mention the past. All the dark and ugly things that had happened were brought out in the open where the light could shine on them.
"Growing up she would tell me my story like a lullaby. She made sure I was not ashamed of this," Allie said.
In time Allie grew into a confident, secure girl who loved singing and dancing.
When she was in fifth grade, CASA of Northeast Texas-an agency that works with abused children-invited her to sing at the Color Run. It's something she continues to do. She has also shared her story at other CASA events to help raise awareness of child abuse. "I realized that the people at CASA helped me get where I am," she said.
CASA's Children's Advocacy Center provides children who are brought in for forensic interviews a blanket and a bear to comfort them. It's where Allie was taken when the abuse by her family was discovered. When she learned that CASA was running out of blankets to give the children brought there, she started the Healing Hearts Blanket Drive.
Her platform at Miss Outstanding Teen Texas was a natural continuation of the work she's been doing for years.
"There are always going to be evil people in the world. My goal is to encourage people to be aware of this issue and to prevent it. It is an avoidable issue. I also needed to give hope to kids in foster care. They are the modern-day orphan. There are so many. There are 400,000 in foster care in the U.S. and 30,000 in Texas," Allie said. "My job is to be the face for foster care, to make is seem more approachable."
Becoming Miss Texas Outstanding Teen has given Allie the opportunity to share her story with an even bigger audience, but winning the title was a shock.
"I was surprised," she said. "I've competed for the past four years, but I always thought winning was something that was so far way. I just went into it knowing I was going to try my best and be myself."
Being herself in past competitions didn't always come easily but as she has grown more confident.
"I was relieved I won for being myself," she said. "That really stood out to me more than anything. This organization is so much more than how you look or being a winner. It gave me joy to know that I was enough."
She also received the Preliminary and Overall Talent award, the Community Service Award and Miss Congeniality.
Whether or not Allie wins the title at the Miss America's Outstanding Teen pageant, the girl who loves Texas sunsets is ready. She anticipates to be a very busy senior year and plans to go to college, though she isn't sure what her career path will be.
"I don't know if I'll go into something related to my story or something else," she said. "I'm always going to take that with me. I'd also love to be a worship leader or missionary, maybe a teacher. For sure it will be something working with people."
After suffering more in her early years than anyone should ever have to, Allie continues to heal and grow. Being part of a healthy, loving family is a huge part of that.
"I have two nephews and one niece. I love them very dearly. They are stubborn just like me. I love nurturing them and giving them everything they need," she said. "There are so many kids who don't get that. Being able to be an aunt that my bio family wasn't just fills a void. It's a way to heal as well. Getting to love the people around me and my family."
After all, she knows what love can do.