Miss Kansas first Miss America contestant to openly show tattoos

Miss Kansas Theresa Vail will become the first Miss America contestant to openly show her tattoos when the Miss America pageant airs this Sunday, September 15. Vail, a sergeant in Army National Guard, has already displayed her two tattoos, the Serenity Prayer on her side and the US Army Dental Corps insignia on her shoulder, during the preliminary swimsuit competition.

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So why is Miss Kansas Theresa Vail choosing to show off her tattoos? She tells People, “My whole platform is empowering women to overcome stereotypes and break barriers. What a hypocrite I would be if I covered my ink. How can I tell other women to be fearless and true to themselves if I can’t do the same? I am who I am, tattoos and all.”

How cool is this woman? Well, Vail is also an expert M16 marksman, a bow hunter, a skydiver, a boxer, a mechanic, and used to race motorcycles until she broke all the fingers on her right hand. That’s how cool.

So who are you going to be rooting for this Sunday? I’ve already made my selection.

Here’s Theresa’s video showing even more reasons why she thinks she deserves your vote…

Miss America’s Sgt. Theresa Vail Is First Contestant to Expose Tattoos [People]