Sparkle Williams – Miss North East Texas
Sparkle Williams is the 25-year-old daughter of Guyanese immigrants, and her diverse and exciting background has made her the young woman she is today. “My mom is a registered nurse in the heart of Manhattan and has shown me the amazing things New York City has to offer,” Sparkle says. “My dad is a world traveler and has facilitated my family’s summer vacations throughout my childhood along the East Coast. My dad has also encouraged me to venture outside of NYC to experience all life has to offer.”
Sparkle is the youngest of seven children and is closest to her brother, who is three years older than her. “We’ve done everything together, from learning to play tennis as kids to binge-watching 90 Day Fiancé as adults,” Sparkle says. “He’s never too shy to tell me the truth, and I consider him my best friend.”
From first to fifth grade, Sparkle attended PS270Q, a school focused on musical arts and scholarship. In middle school, she attended a charter school in Brooklyn, where she could take advanced high school courses as a 7th and 8th grader. For high school, she attended Frederick Douglass Academy VI in Far Rockaway Queens, where she served as Class President. “In addition to Class President, I was a part of the yearbook committee and a tennis star! I wanted to be a leader and role model for other kids in school,” Sparkle says. “Finally, I went to Syracuse University, a private school in upstate New York, where I was challenged academically, socially, and spiritually. I found my passion for business at Syracuse University and pursued a real estate career following my graduation in 2020.”
As a licensed real estate agent in New York City, Sparkle would love to continue practicing in Texas. “One day, I hope to open my own brokerage that gives other real estate agents opportunities to be great!” Sparkle says. “I’m currently fulfilling my license requirements here in Texas and hope to be a practicing agent soon!”
The road to the pageant world began when Sparkle was only 11 years old, and she started singing in a vocal class offered through her mother’s alma mater. “I was always shy and reserved, but when I sang my first song in this class, I was anything but. It was the first thing outside of tennis that I was extremely committed to mastering, and this commitment has helped me succeed in pageantry,” Sparkle says. “My dad was another person who supported me. He always believed in me when I felt like no one else did, and he was always in my corner when some turned their back on me. Finally, my brother always supported me by keeping it real!”
Though she always wanted to compete in pageants, Sparkle prioritized organizations that offered a talent phase of the competition, which is how she came across the Miss America Organization. “Miss Texarkana/Twin Rivers was one of the Miss America locals that I was eligible to compete for, and I learned so much about Texarkana during my time up there! For example, I can’t believe the post office is on the line between two states!” Sparkle says. “But what was most amazing was the warm welcome I received from the people of the community. Everyone was so nice to me, and I know I have a new place to call home!”
For her talent in the Miss Texarkana/Twin Rivers pageant, Sparkle decided to showcase her love of singing with “Saving All My Love For You” by Whitney Houston. “I had doubts about whether I should sing this song, but it felt so right when I would practice,” Sparkle says. “I chose to stick to what my intuition was telling me.”
To prepare for the interview and on-stage question, Sparkle practiced religiously. “I established what I wanted the judges to know about me and communicated that to them,” Sparkle says. “However, I was absolutely terrified of my on-stage question. The on-stage question was harder for me because not only was the judgment coming from the judges’ panel, but everyone in the audience as well.”
Sparkle says that as the time for the competition drew closer, she began to have doubts, but she did not let those doubts stop her from pursuing her dream. “I’m so proud of sticking through until the end,” Sparkle says. “I learned to trust the process. There was really tough competition, and I’m glad the judges were able to see my passion through my performance.”
When the emcee called her name on the stage, Sparkle said it took a few seconds to register that she had won. “Even as I walked to center stage, I questioned whether I won a title or an award. It wasn’t until I saw my crown approaching me that it sank in that I won,” Sparkle says. “As I did my chair pose to be crowned, I thanked the judges for picking me and let the stage lights shine down on me. I was extremely grateful to have earned this opportunity, and I plan to hold myself to an even higher standard in terms of my preparation to succeed at the next step – the Miss Texas pageant.”
If other young women consider competing in pageants like Miss Texarkana/Twin Rivers, Sparkle would encourage them to do so. “Pageants have helped me establish my identity. Through highlighting my strengths and not focusing on things that do not add value to my well-being, I’ve been able to maintain my self-confidence,” Sparkle says. “To be successful, I had to invest in myself, elevate my presence, and learn to navigate the world as a winner. I would encourage every girl to pursue pageantry for a similar experience.”
Fun Facts:
1. The most beautiful girls are the ones who never give up! Perseverance is key.
2. Most people don’t know that I am a shopaholic.
3. If I could tell my younger self anything, I would tell her to keep believing in herself and never give up on her dreams.
4. I am passionate about tennis, singing, and the environment!
5. My guilty pleasure food is McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches!