Pageant News Bureau - Miss West Virginia 2007

P a g e a n t N e w s B u r e a u

Her cause is kindness

The summer of 2007 will not be remembered as a time of peace. Wars, terrorism and crime dominate the news day after day.

But in West Virginia, there is cause for hope. Summer Wyatt, the newly crowned Miss West Virginia, has taken on an ambitious but achievable goal: To eliminate cruelty against the weakest in our midst.

She is majoring in animal sciences at Concord University, and animals are a big part of her life. She also loves children. And her platform is "Making the Connection: Cruelty & Family Violence."

To her mind, animal and domestic violence are two sides of the same pernicious coin, and people who abuse helpless creatures will abuse helpless loved ones.

We agree. From child abuse to dogfighting, mindless violence is not normal. And because it is not normal, it can end in our lifetime. That's her goal, and it makes us feel good about the future.

Photos by Joe Whiteko / PNB

Tanayia Simpson, first runner-up

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