And the winner is…Miss Washington visits LWSD schools to promote literacy and hard work

It took ten years for Evelyn Clark to be crowned Miss Washington. It was in her final year of eligibility where she finally broke through. Clark took this message of determination to a few Lake Washington School District schools on January 22. While visiting first graders at Elizabeth Blackwell Elementary School, she told students that they need to work hard to achieve their goals.

“A lot of people told me to give up, but I didn’t,” Clark said. “And I eventually won, and so I just want to spread the message to kids to never give up on their dreams and to always follow their passions and their goals.” 

Clark grew up in southwest Washington where she says she struggled in elementary school. She experienced bullying and had self-esteem issues. While in fourth grade, she received information about pageants and began competing.

“I love kids,” Clark said. “And just from my past experience of what I went through in elementary school, something that’s really important to me is helping kids find their self-love and confidence.” 
 

Clark ended the visit by reading the book Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes. Most of the kids and teachers knew the book by heart and read along with Miss Washington. 

Evelyn Clark now lives in Bellevue, Wash. and works as a paralegal for a law firm there. Clark will be competing in the national Miss USA competition later this year.