Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with the full name of the pageant.
(NewsNation) — The plus-sized winner of National American Miss Alabama 2024 is clapping back at online critics who are calling her an “unhealthy embarrassment.”
Sara Milliken, 23, won the top prize in the National American Miss pageant in Alabama, but her celebration was cut short when she began receiving hateful messages over her appearance from online trolls.
The makeup artist and podcast host asked her critics to think about how damaging their words can be, saying “hurt people hurt people.”
“I feel often times people resort to cyberbullying because it doesn’t feel real,” she explained. “It’s just words on a screen right? It can’t possibly cause physical harm? Wrong.”
“It’s important to address the part of the story that didn’t air,” Milliken said in a June 6 Instagram post. “When they first published the behind the scenes photo from this day, it received over 2,000 comments and was viewed over a million times.”
Despite the hurtful comments about her appearance, Milliken is focusing on the positives.
“I am blessed to report I am mentally at a great place,” she shared. “However, this isn’t the case for everyone. The best way to prevent this from happening is by simply spreading kindness. Our mama’s taught us best—if you can’t say something nice don’t say nothing at all.”