Such competitions are regarded, perhaps, as the domain of the heterosexual community, but the Layton woman — who grew up in Weber County — felt compelled to challenge that. She is a lesbian, and made it a point to be open about her sexuality in the Miss Davis County and Miss Utah scholarship competitions to put a spotlight on the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer communities.

“I felt it was my duty to make others a little uncomfortable or challenge them with my message of LGBTQ youth inclusion,” she told the Standard-Examiner in a series of email exchanges. “Queer people have always been a part of the Miss America program, but many are encouraged to hide their sexuality in order to win.”

Romney, a preschool teacher, won the Miss Davis County title last November, and though she didn’t prevail at the Miss Utah contest, she remains adamant that members of the LGBTQ community need to be at the table in the state. She’ll hold onto the Miss Davis County title until the next competition later this year.

“It’s time for a queer Miss Utah,” she maintains.

Photo supplied, Miss Davis County program

Sarah Sun of Cedar City — Miss Aspen Hills — took the Miss Utah title on June 10 and will represent the state in the Miss America pageant later this year.

‘WE ARE HERE, WE ARE QUEER’

Romney, a distant relative of U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney, didn’t grow up taking part in pageants. She lived in Pleasant View before moving to Davis County.

“I actually had a pretty skewed view of what it meant to be in pageants until I took part in one. I had what I like to call a ‘Miss Congeniality’ turn around,” she said.

In a recent interview with QSaltLake Magazine, geared to the LGBTQ community, she elaborated, saying the scholarship possibilities in the pageant system initially spurred her interest. Seeing the caliber of the focused young women taking part, though — each “looking to make a difference in their communities” — made her realize there was more substance to the competitions.

The other young women had their issues of concern, and she told the Standard-Examiner that she would make advocacy for LGBTQ youth her focus.

Photo supplied, Miss Davis County program

“I decided to run for Miss Davis County as a lesbian woman because I saw a need for safe spaces for LGBTQ people within the heterosexual narrative. Pageants are typically aimed at heterosexual people, but I wanted to change that,” she said. She founded Green Carnation, and getting the LGBTQ advocacy group off the ground is also a big focus for her.

Indeed, she a “mic-drop” moment, of sorts, during the Miss Utah competition when asked how she would encourage more LGBTQ participation in the pageant program if she were to win. In her response, she referred to the scholarship opportunities and other attributes of the program, but noted that involvement of the gay community in pageants, though generally under the radar, isn’t new.

Queer people, she said, “have been involved in the Miss America program for so long because we are here, we are queer, so get used to it.” On the global stage, the contestants from Argentina and Puerto Rico in the 2022 Miss Grand International pageant made headlines last year when they announced they had married.

At the same time, Romney told the Standard-Examiner that though she may be outspoken, she’s not the first lesbian to take part in competitions in Utah. “There are many queer or questioning people in the Miss Utah system who are afraid of showing their true selves,” she said.

While not shying from her sexuality, Romney indicated that the road was bumpy at times for her as she competed in pageants, though she didn’t delve deeply into the topic. “The response I received was definitely mixed,” she said.

That, perhaps, steels her resolve to help others like herself via Green Carnation. She formed the group to help forge safe spaces in Davis County for LGBTQ youth and young adults and to provide clothing for those transitioning.

“Davis County is arguably one of Utah’s most conservative counties. It’s important to have a gathering space for LGBTQ+ people to garner a sense of community,” she said. “Especially in times like this when our rights are being threatened, it is more important now more than ever to come together as a community to heal.”

Beyond that, as she completes her duties as Miss Davis County 2023, she hopes others come forward to take up where she left off — to help keep the voice of the LGBTQ community loud and strong. The next Miss Davis County competition, among many that feed into the Miss Utah program, is set for late September.

“I would say to the other LGBTQ candidates — do not stop trying. Just because Utah isn’t quite ready yet doesn’t mean that our voices will go unheard. We are ready, it’s just time for the panelists to see that,” she said.