Owensboro resident Karrington True, the reigning United States of America’s Miss Kentucky, is in Las Vegas this week to compete for the national title, marking her first appearance on the national stage after years of preparation and community-focused work.
Originally from Milton, a small town along the Ohio River, True moved to Owensboro last fall after spending several years in Lexington, where she attended the University of Kentucky and built her early career.
“I’m originally from a town of about 500 people,” True said. “I went from that to living in a city of about half a million, so Owensboro feels like the perfect middle ground.”
True’s move came after learning her Lexington apartment building would be demolished for student housing. The timing aligned with both a job opportunity and her ties to Owensboro, where her significant other lives.
“I have loved it so far. I think Owensboro is a great city,” she said. “I really love that there’s no traffic compared to the craziness that Lexington has.”
True’s pageant journey began in childhood, but she said her involvement deepened in college when she recognized the opportunity to earn scholarships and expand her impact through community service. A third-generation advocate for first responders, True has spent nearly two decades supporting related causes, inspired in part by the loss of a close family friend.
“I have advocated for our heroes for 18 years of my life,” she said.
Her platform focuses on public safety education, particularly through partnerships with organizations such as the Kentucky Firefighters Association and programs like Sound Off Kentucky, which promotes fire prevention and smoke detector awareness.
“I very often get to stand on stage in front of hundreds of people and talk about first responders,” True said. “You really just get this kind of amplified platform to advocate for the community service that you’re really passionate about.”
Since being crowned in October, True has traveled approximately 5,000 miles across Kentucky, visiting schools and reaching an estimated 1,500 students with safety education.
“I teach students the importance of having a home safety plan and what to do if their house catches fire,” she said.
Balancing her responsibilities as Miss Kentucky with a full-time job, True said her schedule leaves little downtime.
“I don’t have much free time because I’m in the office from 9 to 5 every day,” she said. “Outside of that, I dedicate as much time as I can to serving Kentucky.”
As she prepares for nationals, True said her focus has been on refining every aspect of competition, from interview skills to performance.
“I practice every day,” she said. “I have to walk in heels, and I have to do an interview and talk on stage, and all that takes practice.”
She will perform a piece from the Broadway musical Les Misérables for the talent portion — an area she once found challenging.
“Talent used to be my least favorite area of competition,” True said. “But we’ve worked on the song so much that I love it. I cannot wait to sing it.”
Heading into the competition, True said she is balancing ambition with perspective.
“I want to win,” she said. “But I’ve already won because I get to be Miss Kentucky.”
Regardless of the outcome, she said the experience itself is something she hopes to fully embrace.
“I’m here to have fun. I’m here to make friends, to enjoy the process,” True said. “Really just soaking up every minute of the week is my top priority.”
To stay up to date with True’s pageant journey, follow her on Instagram @usoa_misskentucky.
