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FRANKFORT, Ky. — Rachelle Phillips had to work extra-hard to become a college student, a published author and now Miss Kentucky. In her new role, she’s looking forward to encouraging schoolchildren to strive to be the best they can be.
Rachelle Phillips, Miss Kentucky |
“You can do anything if you put your mind to it,” Phillips, 24, of Princeton, said in a visit to Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer’s office on Tuesday. She will share that message in Kentucky schools as she promotes her literacy platform and as she serves as official spokesperson for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Teens and Tobacco Program.
The Teens and Tobacco program, “No Ifs, Ands or Butts – It’s the Law,” was established in 1996 to prevent the sale of tobacco products to anyone under 18. Miss Kentucky travels all over the Commonwealth to speak to students about the laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to minors and the penalties for breaking the law.
“To be able to show kids that this is the law and show them what they can do with their money besides smoking cigarettes is a step in the right direction,” Phillips said. “This program is vital to Kentucky’s youth. I’m very fortunate to be a spokesperson for ‘No Ifs, Ands or Butts.’”
Phillips’ path to the Miss Kentucky crown had a few bumps along the way. She was held back a year in second grade because of a reading problem, but she worked with a literacy tutor for a year to get back on track. Now she is a senior at Middle Tennessee State University with a major in English and a minor in speech and theater. She plans to attend graduate school at the University of Kentucky following graduation from MTSU. Her goal is to become a college professor.
Phillips published a children’s book, “Dinkey the Donkey,” in 2004 based on a literacy theme. She said the book is used in learning centers in Kentucky and Tennessee.
Phillips is the daughter of Randall and Debra Phillips of Princeton. Rev. Phillips is minister of Princeton Church of Christ. Debra Phillips is a part-time interior designer at Feagen’s Furniture Store in Fredonia. Rachelle has a sister, Sonyia Rimmer, of Covington, Tenn., and two nephews.
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