In this Tuesday Sept. 10, 2013 photo, Theresa Vail, Miss Kansas, takes part in the swimsuit competition during the first night of the Miss America Pageant at Boardwalk Hall, in Atlantic City, N.J. Vail isn't looking to shock the nation at the 2014 pageant, but she is trying to empower women to overcome stereotypes and break barriers, she wrote on her blog. Vail, who is competing as Miss Kansas in the 93rd edition of the pageant, announced in the blog post that she will have her two tattoos visibly exposed during the competition. She is believed to be the first contestant in the history of the pageant to do so. (AP Photo/The Press of Atlantic City, Edward Lea)

Skin art revealed at Miss America pageant

ASSOCIATED PRESS
BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - Miss Kansas Theresa Vail says she wants to break the stereotype that women with visible tattoos don't compete in pageants.

So during the swimsuit portion of the Miss America competition on Tuesday, Vail revealed two tattoos - the Serenity Prayer on her right side and the insignia of the U.S. Army Dental Corps on her left shoulder.

Vail is a 22-year-old senior at Kansas State University. She's also a member of the Army National Guard who wants to become a military dentist.

Her platform is helping women overcome stereotypes and break barriers.

Given her platform, she wrote on her blog last month: "What a hypocrite I would be if I covered the ink."

The Miss America pageant is back in Atlantic City, N.J., after a six-year absence. The finale will be Sunday night.

UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy:
  • This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone.
  • No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. No off-topic remarks.
  • No disinformation about current events.
  • We will remove any comments — or commenters — that do not follow this commenting policy.
Send a letter to the editor