When Taylor Davis was crowned Miss Texas USA 2025, the moment felt surreal.
“I remember being on that stage, grabbing my face and thinking, ‘I can’t believe it,’” Davis recalled. “Then I saw my friends and family jumping up and down in the audience, so I started jumping too. It was pure joy.”
For the 25-year-old Howard University alumna, that victory was years in the making and the culmination of perseverance, purpose, and faith.
Davis’s journey to the world of pageantry began in a place many wouldn’t expect: The halls of Howard University’s School of Business.
“I didn’t grow up in pageants or anything like that,” she said. “My mom went to Grambling State and was Miss Grambling back in 1986, but I kind of found my own way to it. My first pageant was in college when I was Miss School of Business, and then Miss Howard University.”
That experience, and a pivotal encounter, changed the course of her life.
“I attended a leadership conference at Howard, and the keynote speaker was Deshauna Barber, Miss USA 2016,” Davis said. “I was so inspired by her story and how she carried herself. I thought, maybe I could be Miss USA one day, or more importantly, maybe I could be anything I want to be.”
That spark ignited a journey that would take her from the stages of HBCU pageantry to the bright lights of the Miss USA stage.
The power of persistence
Davis’ road to the crown wasn’t without obstacles. She competed at Miss Texas USA three times before winning, finishing as a finalist and runner-up along the way. “It was a lesson in resilience,” she said. “It taught me that delayed doesn’t mean denied. Every year, I got better, and this time, I was ready.”
Her former advisor at Howard, Warren Servance, wasn’t surprised by her perseverance.
“During Taylor’s time as Miss Howard 2020, she exemplified grace, leadership, and a deep commitment to uplifting her peers and the Howard community during a pandemic,” Servance said. “She consistently carried herself with poise and purpose. Seeing her now as Miss Texas USA 2025 is a proud moment, a testament to her dedication, perseverance, and authenticity.”
That authenticity shines through in everything she does – from her 9-to-5 career to her passion project that’s inspiring young girls across Texas.
Beauty, brains and the NFL
By day, Davis works as a data analyst for the National Football League, managing analytics on the league’s social media team.
“This is my nine-to-five,” she said. “Pageants are actually my side hustle,” she said. “I love working in a space where we tell unique stories that bring communities together.”
In a male-dominated industry, Davis understands the weight of her presence.
“The sports world has very few women, and even fewer women of color,” she said. “But you can’t be afraid of the odds. You can’t wait to see people who look like you before you take a chance. Sometimes, you have to be the first.”
That message of boldness is at the heart of her platform, “Hail Mary,” an initiative inspired by her love of football and her faith.
“A Hail Mary is a long pass, high risk, high reward,” she explained. “It’s a leap of faith. My platform is about encouraging people to take that leap, to bet on themselves, even when the odds aren’t in their favor.”
Through her Hail Mary workshops, Davis mentors young girls across the state, helping them develop confidence and set goals. “It’s important that they have a positive example,” she said. “Someone who teaches them to be brave and ambitious.”
Beyond the crown
As she prepares to compete in the Miss USA 2025 pageant in Reno, Nevada on Oct. 24, Davis says she’s focused not just on winning, but on impact.
“My platform is about encouraging people to take that leap, to bet on themselves, even when the odds aren’t in their favor.”
– Taylor Davis
“My ‘why’ is doing for others what Deshauna Barber did for me,” she said. “It’s not about the sash or the crown. It’s about how you use your platform to inspire others. If someone sees how boldly I’m walking in faith and decides to chase their own dream, that’s the real win.”
Her story is one of faith, focus, and fearlessness.
“The boldness to believe that you can do something,” she said, “is all you need to actually achieve it. If you believe in yourself, you’re already halfway there.”
