Madison Matlock – Miss Texarkana
Madison Matlock is the 24-year-old daughter of Keith and Melissa Matlock, and even from a very young age, Madison has been able to rely on the unconditional love and encouragement of her parents, grandparents, and sister, Macy, who is attending Angelo State University. “They always told me they would support me, no matter what I wanted to do in this world, and when I said I wanted to go to Hollywood and sing, my Mimi took me to try out for America’s Got Talent. But I didn’t get a callback. Then, when I wanted to be a makeup artist, my parents made me custom face charts for my’ business.’ They had kept their promise, even when they didn’t understand why I wanted to go to college nine hours away or spend my spring breaks showing livestock,” Madison says, “My family is everything to me.”
Madison attended school at Klondike ISD in Lamesa, Texas, from seventh grade to her junior year. “It’s a tiny, six-man, football-playing school in the middle of cotton fields. I had less than 20 classmates in my grade, and we spent all day, every day together. I was a cheerleader, played volleyball, and wrote for the school newspaper,” Madison says. “In a small school, you pretty much end up doing everything.”
Madison fell in love with FFA and agricultural education in this small town. Then, in March of 2017, her family moved to Canyon, Texas, and she got her first taste of a larger high school; however, even with the move, she made a name for herself. “I was still a varsity cheerleader, continued showing pigs, and was even voted ‘Most Friendly’ senior,” Madison says. “I’m so thankful for the experience in Canyon because it truly developed my resiliency and ability to pull myself up by my bootstraps.”
Madison is currently attending Southern Methodist University, where she is pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree. However, working full-time, going to school, and competing for Miss Texas has proved difficult, and her current goal is to make it through her accounting classes this semester. “Accomplishing this goal is so important to me because it will lay the foundation for the rest of my life,” Madison says. “I often remind myself that the sacrifices I’m making now will be worth it. I have faith that investing in my education will ultimately take me places I would’ve never dreamed of.”
Though she currently works in tech sales, Madison knew she didn’t want to stay in the field forever, so she decided to return to school to pivot her career to commercial real estate. “Despite facing confusion from co-workers and peers, I decided to pursue my master’s in something that would open doors no matter what I decide to do,” Madison says, “I’m extremely blessed to go to one of the best schools for real estate and have access to prominent leaders.”
Two years ago, Madison decided to start competing for the Miss America organization, and when she did, her entire family showed up. “I truly couldn’t do this without them and their willingness to go above and beyond,” Madison says. “Then, last June, I was named first runner-up to our amazing Miss Texas, Ellie Breaux. I left that week with about $15,000 in scholarship money, many more friendships, and the feeling of accomplishment.”
However, riding the high of Miss Texas would only last for a while as Madison lost her job and faced some difficult life changes shortly after. “This last fall was probably one of the darkest times of my life, and I wasn’t sure if I would ever compete again. What made me decide to come back and compete in Miss Texarkana / Twin Rivers was the people. I’ve always loved the Miss Texas Organization, but the volunteers and champions of Miss Texas’ legacy have kept me coming back,” Madison says. “I needed encouragement and knew I could find that through the Miss Texarkana / Twin Rivers Organization. Based on what I’ve seen about Texarkana, I knew I could find that here, too. I’m excited to spend a year in this community and invest in it as a local titleholder.”
Madison comes from a musical family, and she’s enjoyed musicals and performing her entire life. “In our family, someone is usually singing, and music is definitely playing around the house. I think that’s why I’m a ‘human jukebox’ and have a vast knowledge of many different genres/artists,” Madison says. “It never was just one genre, but a beautiful mix of Led Zeppelin, James Taylor, and Barbra Streisand.”
This passion for music and drama inspired Madison to sing “My Man” from the movie Funny Girl for the Miss Texarkana/ Twin Rivers competition. “If you’ve ever seen the movie, “My Man” is a beautiful, gut-wrenching finale. I’m not singing about a man like Barbara, but I channel her emotion and try to tell the story through my performance,” Madison says. “When I sing, my soul pours out onto the stage. I’m really just a big theater kid at heart.”
To prepare for the interview and on-stage question, Madison usually makes a list of what she wants to share so that she can stay focused. “Having that list in my mind keeps me on task and answering the question. However, I think there’s a component of preparation that requires you to dig deep,” Madison says. “To interview well, you must get deeper into how you think, react, and feel. Being authentic is also the key to shaking off those nerves in the interview room or on stage. When you’re not worried about sounding perfect, the responses come from the heart.”
Madison’s preparation paid off, and besides winning the title, Madison says that she was most proud of her interview. “The judges definitely challenged me, and even though I felt rusty after a small hiatus, I had so much fun!” Madison says. “The interview is one of my favorite parts of the competition because I love talking about the work I do with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and my school programs.”
When Madison’s name was called as the title winner of Miss Texarkana, she immediately thought of her cousin, Holiday. Madison knew how excited Holiday was going to be, knowing she’d be Lonestar Princess again. At Christmas, Holiday colored many dresses and asked which one Madison liked best because she would design her Miss Texas gown. “I asked her if she wanted to return to Miss Texas again, and she just nodded, smiling up at me. Moments like those are when you see that this experience is not about you, but the lives you touch along the way,” Madison says. “She’s my little partner in crime, and I can’t wait to see Miss Texas week through her eyes this year.”
From her experience in the pageant, Madison learned the value of supporting the other contestants. “Giving that compliment, fixing the back of that girl’s hair, or helping someone apply eyelashes is the heart of what we do,” Madison says. “Offering encouragement or lending a hand doesn’t take away from your experience; it only adds to it.”
Madison is still trying to process that she will compete at Miss Texas again, and so far, she says preparations have been relatively unglamorous. “I’ve been working with my advisors at SMU to help lighten my coursework to prepare for Miss Texas but not fall behind. I’m also trying to get ahead in my classes to make myself available for appearances and making plans to be in Texarkana as much as possible,” Madison says. “It’s been a lot of late nights, but I want to set this year up for success.”
Over the last several years, Madison says that she has gained so much from her experiences competing in the Miss America organization. Besides the scholarship opportunity, the pageants have given Madison some of the most influential friendships of her life. “I found community amongst some of the smartest, most accomplished women who continue to push me to be the best Madison I can be. I joined this organization very lost and lonely, but I can confidently say I’ve transformed into a stronger, bolder version of myself,” Madison says. “More than ever, women need a space to feel supported and valued. Putting aside all the politics, big hair, and stereotypes, we can see that pageants are a place for women to shine.”
Fun Facts:
- The most beautiful girls are the ones who clap for others.
- Most people don’t know that I collect vinyl records, and my turntable is my prized possession.
- If I could tell my younger self anything, I would tell her that she’s not weird or unlovable. She just has yet to meet the people who will cherish her.
- I am passionate about SEC Football. Gig’ Em! Aggies!
- My guilty pleasure food is pizza, especially with some hot honey drizzled on top.