It’s merit-based, but you’re wearing seven-inch heels.”

Leigh Payne, on the Miss America competition

It is not the talent portion of the competition that concerns Leigh Payne — she is an accomplished pianist. And she is very comfortable speaking in public.

No, Ms. Payne, who recently won the title of Miss Rhode Island and will represent the Ocean State at the Miss America Competition this December, becomes most concerned when it is time to walk.

“What I underestimated is walking on stage,” Ms. Payne said during a recent interview. 

Ms. Payne said presenting yourself with grace and poise is more difficult than people think — the audience is watching every step, every turn, and there is no room for even the slightest wobble. 

“That’s where the grace comes in,” she said. 

The competition has shifted over the years. Ms. Payne said the judging is now focused on the participant’s talents and their social initiatives. Ms. Payne is focusing her social initiative on supporting small business and empowering women through ownership and entrepreneurship. Her talent is playing the piano. She plays Chopin’s “Fantaisie impromptu in c-sharp minor.”

Ms. Payne, who graduated from Barrington High School in 2018 and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from The George Washington University this year, said the Miss America competition may be a bit misunderstood these days. 

“They reward higher education,” she said. “You can be a modern woman and thrive in this organization. The people are phenomenal. 

“It’s really merit-based in a lot of ways. It’s merit-based, but you’re wearing seven-inch heels.”

Ms. Payne said the competitions no longer judge on beauty, but rather focus on the individual’s grace and poise. 

In a recent email, Ms. Payne wrote about some of the misconceptions that surround the Miss American organization. She wrote that the organization is the world’s largest provider of women’s scholarships in the world. 

“It is the sole reason why I am able to earn my MBA from Salve (Regina University) — paid for entirely as they are a sponsor of the program,” she wrote. “In addition to the in-kind scholarship with Salve, I also received over $5,000 in cash scholarship from the program as well. 

"Sadly, the Miss America Organization is not recognized as strongly as it should be in New England and Rhode Island. The misconceptions that the program is out-dated, old-fashioned, are cultural to the region and not merited. Rather, the program is a strong aspect of American history that continues to remain incredibly relevant today…”

‘I love Rhode Island’

Ms. Payne grew up in North Carolina, in the Charlotte area, and moved to Barrington when she was 15. She quickly grew to love the town. 

“It was one of the best experiences growing up,” she said. “It’s a charming area.”

For years, Ms. Payne was a bit reserved with her feelings about pageant competitions, but that changed when she was 16. She entered the Miss Rhode Island Outstanding Teen program and did very well. She said it was then that she stopped feeling embarrassed about her involvement in the competitions, and started feeling proud. 

After graduating from Barrington High School, she went to college in Washington, D.C., graduating in just three years and landing a tax consultant job with KPMG, one of the big four accounting firms. 

Ms. Payne entered the Miss Rhode Island competition this year and in June outscored eight other contestants to win the title. She said certain states approach the competition differently — some, she said, offer winners an apartment and a salary; some earn car sponsorships. 

Ms. Payne said the job of serving as Miss Rhode Island is what you make of it, and she is enjoying the experience. Ms. Payne is also quite excited about traveling to Mohegan Sun in December to participate in the Miss America competition. 

“I’m really grateful to have the opportunity,” she said.