Getting to know Callie Walker: Miss Alabama 2018

Callie Walker was crowned Miss Alabama Saturday night. Now she begins her reign as Miss Alabama and her pursuit for the Miss America crown in September.

AL.com sat down with Callie at the Tutwiler Hotel Monday afternoon to get to know more about her, her platform and her Alabama roots.

She loves to perform

Callie performed a classical ballet on pointe to "The Hoedown" from "Rodeo" composed by Aaron Copland during the pageant. She won the talent portion of Thursday night's preliminary.

"It wasn't until my senior year of high school (at Oak Mountain High School) when I discovered this is what I wanted to do. I was given the opportunity to play Fiona in Shrek the musical. It wasn't until that opportunity was presented to me that I really knew this was what I wanted to do and that I was very passionate about it."

Callie's mother, Angela Tower Walker, was Callie's ballet teacher growing up and even choreographed her ballet routine she performed at the Miss Alabama Pageant. Her mother also created the costume she wore during her performance.

"It's so beautiful and so much fun to have that little piece of my mom with me throughout the week," Callie said. "It was really special to always know my mom is in the audience doing every step with me even though she's not on the stage. I always hear her go 'woo' when I get to a check point in my dance. It is so much fun to hear that encouragement in the audience."

Aside from their mutual love of dance and performance, Callie and her mom now share a new bond: Angela Walker was crowned Miss Alabama in 1985.

Although her mom always challenged her and encouraged her to be her best in the pageant, Callie said it was her mom's constant advice to enjoy the pageant experience that helped her through last week's competition.

"That's the best piece of advice she could have ever given me because this week because I was calm. I was at peace with whatever happened at the end of the week. I think that mindset just gave me a really special weekend," Callie said.

She like to talk "trash"

Callie's platform, "Let's Talk Trash"--Green Kids for a Green Planet, focuses on teaching youth the three R's of sustainability: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

She started "Let's Talk Trash" and a glass recycling project in her neighborhood three years ago. Since starting the recycling project, she has helped deliver more than 1 ton of glass to recycling centers across the state.

Her goal as Miss Alabama is to start sustainability programs in as many Alabama elementary schools as possible during her year reign.

"I do think it all starts in the schools. Something I have enjoyed so much is promoting my platform with elementary school students. When I've had the opportunity to return to the same schools, it's so exciting to see the kids run up and tell me what they recycled or that they told their parents about it," she said.

She has guilty food pleasures, just like the rest of us

Even though Callie won the swimsuit portion of Friday's preliminary and values a healthy lifestyle, she still has guilty pleasures when it comes to food, just like the rest of us.

Among her favorites are Mexican food and Bruster's Graham Central Station ice cream.

"It's the best. It has little pieces of graham crackers and chocolate. I highly encourage it," she said.

Broadway dreams

Callie's older sister, Scarlett, graduated from the University of Alabama with a B.A. in musical theatre and made her Broadway debut in "Carousel." After Miss Alabama and completing her senior year at Alabama, Callie said she hopes to one day share the stage with her sister.

"I have always wanted to play Anastasia in the musical Anastasia, but after seeing my sister on Broadway, I would love to be a part of any show that she is a part of. Just the feeling of being on stage with her and performing with her. It would be pretty remarkable to have that experience," she said.

Callie is a twin

"I'm two minutes younger, so I'm the baby," she said with a laugh.

Her brother, Michael, also studies at the University of Alabama. He's currently majoring in music education.

"He's my best friend in the whole world. Our freshman year of college we went to two different schools and it was the first time we'd been apart, which was a big transition, but now he's at the University of Alabama. We're back together," she said.

Looking forward to Miss America

Just last week, the Miss America Organization announced it will no longer include swimsuit as one of the competition areas in the pageant. Saturday marked the last day to see the Miss Alabama contestants in swimsuits.

Callie won the swimsuit competition during Friday night's preliminary. She said the swimsuit portion of the competition has helped her maintain a healthy lifestyle through the five years she's competed in Miss America local pageants and Miss Alabama.

"I am sad to see it go, but if that's what the board thinks is what is best for the organization to move forth then I support it," she said.

In thinking of the Miss America Pageant, set for Sept. 9 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Callie said she's anxious to learn more about the pageant, now that swimsuit is no longer as aspect of the competition.

"I'm just excited that I'm going to be reunited with some of my Miss America's Outstanding Teen sisters who have also won their state pageants. There are three girls from the 2012 (Miss America's Outstanding Teen) class and I'm excited to see if more join this weekend and the weekends to come."

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