Alayna Turner’s room is already half-packed, with dresses, shoes and packing lists scattered everywhere.
For Turner, a senior at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, the organized chaos is part of preparing for one of the biggest weeks of her life. She will compete as Miss Lake Dardanelle in the Miss Arkansas pageant, the official preliminary to Miss America, June 6-13 at Robinson Performance Hall in Little Rock.
Turner, who is from Mansfield, will graduate from UAFS in December 2026 with a degree in media communications and a minor in public speaking. She currently works part-time at Sheri’s Bridal and Formal in Fort Smith and plans to become a store manager after graduation…