BOWLING GREEN – Miss Magoffin County Rylie Castle may not have come home with a new crown from the Miss Kentucky Scholarship Pageant last week, but she won over the hearts of viewers, securing the most public votes in the competition.
Rylie, a 2023 graduate of Magoffin County High School, went into the Miss Kentucky Pageant with only one pageant under her belt – the Miss Magoffin County pageant, which she won during last year’s Founders’ Days festivities, making her eligible to compete at the state level.
While she knew she wanted to compete in the Miss Kentucky Scholarship Pageant, but didn’t know exactly where to start preparing, she focused on the interview process and her talent, attributing Jincy Bailey, Justin Bailey, Jennifer Howard, and Jessica Francis for mentoring through the interview preparation and Lauren Bowman with her talent – a tap routine to “The Grundy County Auction.”
“I decided to do a tap routine because out of all my years of dancing, tap was my favorite and I started it around 3 years old,” Rylie said. “And I love country music and this song is the favorite one I’ve ever danced to.”
Rylie told the Independent she wanted to participate in the pageants to get out of her comfort zone.
“It was a great experience,” Rylie said. “I’ve met a lot of great people and the best part is the sisterhood. I would have never believed it, but I’ve made lifelong friends.”
Even more amazingly, Rylie’s platform is to raise awareness to anxiety and depression, which she noted she struggled with all through high school.
“I chose this because it was the one I most connected with, but it was a challenge,” Rylie said. “To be on stag and asked about it, it was really hard. I’ve never talked about it before and now I’m talking about it in front of a crowd, so I was really out of my comfort zone.”
Though you would never know it by her calm demeanor on stage, Ryle said she struggled with bad anxiety backstage, but really found herself in the process.
“It helped with my anxiety and depression,” Rylie said. “Years ago I would have never been able to do this, but it really helped me to get out there and talk about it.”
As for advice for others considering entering a pageant, she said the experience is worth it.
“It’s going to be so hard at first, but in the end it’s all worth it,” Rylie said. “You learn to get comfortable with yourself and you really get to know yourself and meet so many people throughout the journey.”
Rylie finished in the Top 12 in the Miss Kentucky Scholarship Pageant, while also securing the most votes from the public, earning her the title of “Miss Kentucky’s Choice.”
As she nears the end of her reign as Miss Magoffin County, Rylie said she has really enjoyed the whole experience, getting to visit the schools and meeting the students.
“My favorite part is watching the little girls and boys on stage at local pageants and seeing them show their personalities.”
Rylie plans to attend Eastern Kentucky University in the fall, majoring in pre-vet, with the long-term goal to become a veterinarian.
“I’d like to thank Miss Kentucky for all the opportunities they provided for us,” Rylie said, noting they were able to visit the Corvette Museum and ride in some of the Corvettes. “I’m thankful for my princess, Kendyl Minix, who is the sweetest thing ever and I loved getting to experience all of this with her. And I want to thank Jincy Bailey and all of my sponsors.”
Kendyl, who was competing in Kentucky’s Miss Supreme Princess as Miss Magoffin County’s Little Sister, won Best Dressed at Miss Kentucky in her category.
