Bassett competing for DYW title
Madison’s Ashley Grace “Gracie” Bassett said she is proud and honored to compete as the Mississippi representative in the national Distinguished Young Woman of America competition this summer.
Distinguished Young Woman, formerly known as “America’s Junior Miss,” is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1958 that provides scholarship opportunities to high school senior girls.
Bassett, 17, is a homeschooled high school senior. She is the daughter William and Barbie Bassett, who is a meteorologist, traffic reporter and host of “Today at 11” at WLBT 3 in Jackson.
“When I was around 13 years old, I saw my mom, who used to be a pageant coach, helping girls participate in things like Miss Mississippi and Distinguished Young Woman,” Bassett said.
“I asked her for help and advice, and I ultimately decided when I became a junior, I wanted to take part in Distinguished Young Woman and see what all the fuss was about.”
She did just that and entered the local Madison County Distinguished Young Woman program, where she went on to win the local and state titles and became Mississippi’s Distinguished Young Woman for 2021.
Bassett participated in the local program in person in January 2020 and competed virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the state program in September 2020.
In the programs, candidates are required to excel in five different categories: Scholastics, Interview, Self-Expression, Talent and Fitness.
Bassett said she was shocked to win the local and state titles.
“Even though it was a small program, I’d never done anything like Distinguished Young Woman or any type of pageant before, so it was way outside of my comfort zone,” she said. “I have no regrets, though. It was overwhelming to win the local title and the same holds for the state competition.”
The national Distinguished Young Woman competition will be held virtually on June 24, 25 and 26. Bassett said she will do her interviews with the judges over Zoom, and she will film herself for the fitness and talent portions, where she plans to perform a piano arrangement of “Whitewater Chopsticks” by Calvin Jones as her talent.
“I am incredibly proud and honored to be representing Mississippi in the Distinguished Young Woman of America program,” she said. “The people of Madison County have done a wonderful job of helping me with my journey. I am well aware of the wonderful community I have and I know they have my back.”
Barbie Bassett said it has been a lot of fun from the very beginning watching her daughter start her journey with the local Distinguished Young Woman competition and that it is getting more and more fun every day as she prepares for nationals.
“This program has been priceless for Gracie’s growth as she continues to approach adulthood,” Bassett said. “I urge parents to encourage their children and support them along the way. Encourage them to step outside their comfort zone and challenge them in different areas.”
William Bassett said it has been nothing short of amazing to see Gracie achieve her goals and see the fruits of her labor rewarded with success when she achieved those goals.
“This program pushed Gracie outside of her comfort zone in several aspects, and it motivated her to improve so that her dreams could be realized,” Bassett said. “I am so proud of her.”
To learn more visit www.distinguishedyw.org.